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XI  B  R.AR.Y 

OF  THL 

U  N  I  VER.SITY 
Of    ILLINOIS 


ILUM01S  HISTORICAL  SURVET 


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,  .  win 
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HISTORY 


OF  THE 


Fourth  Illinois  Volunteers 

IN   THEIR   RELATION   TO   THE 

SPANISH-AMERICAN  WAR 

FOR   THE   LIBERATION   OF 

CUBA  AND   OTHER   ISLAND    POSSESSIONS 
OF  SPAIN. 


FULLY     ILLUSTRATED    WITH    FINE    TONED    ENGRAVINGS    SHOWING 

OFFICERS   AND    MEN   COMPOSING   THE    REGIMENT   NEAR   THE 

DATE   OF    MUSTERING   OUT,   BESIDE    SCENES   CONNECTED 

WITH    THE    CAREER    OF    THE    REGIMENT. 


BY 

CHAPLAIN  JOHN  R.  SKINNER 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  I39'.i,  in  the  office  of 

the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  (.'., 

bv  J.  R.  Skinner. 


FOL'RTH  ST.,  LOGAStroRT. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

"SITV  OF  ILL; 


1 


4 


I  1 48534 


MAJOR-GENERAL    FITZHUGH    LEE. 


COLONEL    CASIMIR    ANDEL. 


COLONEL    EBEN    SWIFT. 


I;  I'  / 


DEDICATION. 


TO 

MY  DEVOTED  WIFE, 

AND 

LADY  NURSES 

OF    THE 

SEVENTH  ARMY  CORPS, 

WHO   WERE    SO   LONG   ASSOCIATED    TOGETHER 

IN   THE    HOSPITALS,   WHERE   THE   SICK   AND 

UNFORTUNATE   OF   THIS    CORPS   WERE 

TENDERLY   CARED    FOR, 

IS   THIS    HUMBLE   VOLUME    DEDICATED.   fc 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL    HENRY    T.    DOUGLAS. 


/  r  v 


CAPT.    H.'S.    PARKER. 


LIEUT-COLONEL    S.    A.    D.    MC  WILLIAMS. 


r 


MAJOR    L.    E.     BENNETT.  1ST    LIEUT.    CHARLES    DOLE. 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  undertaking  to  publish  a  history  of  the  Fourth  Illi- 
nois Volunteers  I  realize  from  the  first  the  disadvantages 
under  which  I  must  labor  from  my  comparative  brief  mem- 
bership in  the  organization.  In  order,  therefore,  to  prevent 
as  far  as  possible  any  error  of  dates,  facts  or  conditions,  I 
at  once  sought  relief  from  this  embarrassment  by  soliciting 
help  from  those  of  the  regiment  who  were  more  conversant 
with  all  the  details  connected  with  its  history,  and  I  now 
take  this  public  way  of  tendering  my  most  heartfelt  grati- 
tude to  those  who  have  either  directly  or  indirectly  rendered 
me  assistance  in  this  matter. 

My  effort  and  aim  has  been  to  secure  and  embody  only 
facts  and  yet  all  facts  of  historic  interest  connected  with  the 
regiment  in  its  career  as  United  States  Volunteers.  That 
I  have  not  been  able  to  accomplish  my  desire  in  this  re- 
spect, I  fear  will  be  discovered  in  the  body  of  this  book  as 
I  have  been  greatly  disappointed  in  some,  whose  promises 
to  aid  in  certain  matters  have  failed  to  materialize  in  any 
helpful  way,  thus  not  only  delaying  the  issue  of  the  work, 
but  as  well  reduced  the  number  of  cuts,  biographies  and 
facts  of  company  history. 

Still,  with  the  hope  that  it  may  be  worthy  of  your  re- 
ception, not  merely  as  a  kind  of  souvenir  of  our  campaign, 
but  more,  as  a  volume  embodying  history  of  faithful  service, 
as  well  as  real  suffering,  I  submit  it  to  the  interested  read- 


1 6  INTRODUCTORY. 

er.  While  the  reader  will  find  facts  repeated  in  this  vol- 
ume, yet  the  different  settings  given  them  by  different 
writers  will  enable  the  reader  to  get  a  glimpse  at  them 
from  several  angles. 

We  have  not  striven  to  produce  flowers  of  rhetoric,  or 
beautiful  symmetrical  periods  that  please  and  charm  the 
cultured  literati.  Nor  have  we  attempted  to  give  all  the 
laughable  incidents  and  jokes  that  passed,  the  misconstruc- 
tion of  which  might  cast  reflections  where  they  would  give 
pain.  So  likewise  we  have  withheld  facts  that  could  have 
no  historic  value  to  the  reader,  but  on  the  other  hand 
might  be  wrested  to  the  embarrassment  or  serious  hurt  of 
individuals  in  their  social,  civil  or  political  relations.  Con- 
sidering the  great  disadvantages  under  which  we  have 
labored  in  collecting  the  facts  of 'the  volume,  which  we  hope 
are  sufficiently  reliable  to  be  trusted  and  appreciated,  we 
commit  them  to  the  public  in  this  more  permanent  form, 
without  an  apology,  yet  asking  that  our  imperfections  as 
discovered  will  be  pardoned  as  unintentional. 
Arcola,  111.,  June  30,  1899.  Respectfully, 

J.  R.  SKINNER. 


INDEX. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 

.Abend,  Lieut.  E.  J 77 

Andel,  Col.  Casimir 20 

Andel,  Lieut.   W.  C 78 

Blackwell,  Sergt.  S.  B 392 

Clayton,  Lieut.  E.  P 113 

Coen,  Lieut.  H.  C 37 

Courtney,  Capt.  W.  R 196 

Davis,  Lieut.  C.  W 237 

Douglas,  Brig.-Gen.  H.  T. . . .  19 

Evers,  J.  U 410 

Engelmann,  Miss  J 405 

Harris,  Lieut.  Lyman 170 

Hersh,  Capt.  E.  W    168 

Hilgard,  Lieut.  R.   M 78 

Hilgard,  Lieut.  G.  E 399 

Howell,  Capt.  W.  A 170 

Lang,  Maj.E.  J 98 

Lee,  Brig.-Gen.  Fitzhugh 17 

McCord,  Major  T.  C 398 

Moore,    Lieut.  R.  J 240 

Parker,  Capt.  H.  S  24 

Pavey,  Capt.  N.P  50 

Piper,  Lieut.  W.  N 222 

Rose,  Lieut.  P.  J 159 

Satterfield,  Lieut.  W.  E 52 

Schrader,  ("apt.  F.  J 75 

Seaman,  Lieut.  A.  O 159 

:Swift,  Col.Eben 23 

Skinner,  J.  R 409 

Smith,  Lieut.  A.  W 196 

'Snyder,  Capt.  Al 390 

Todd.W.H 408 

'Thompson,  Lieut.  F.  E 198 

Voris,  Lieut.  A.  C 271 

Washburn,  Lieut.  L.  B 195 

Wilson,  Lieut.  I.  N 35 

HISTORY. 

Battalion,  First 26 

Battalion,  Second 98 

Band 393 

•Cheney,  George,  Address  by. .  445 

Chaplaincy 411 

Hospital 401 

Regiment 286 

Company  A 240 

B   171 

C 89 

"         C,  Home  Reception 

of 97 

•Company  E   273 

F..                         ...  53 


Company  H 222 

1 115 

K 161 

L 40 

M..  .199 


COMPANY   ROSTERS. 


Company  A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
E. 
F. 
G. 
H. 
I.. 
K. 
L. 
M. 


263 

186 

91 

81 

278 

70 

108 

228 

152 

163 

44 

214 


PORTRAITS   AND   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Company  A,  Commissioned  Of- 
ficers    238 

Company  A 264 

Company     B,     Commissioned 

Officers 169 

Company  B 187 

Company  C,  Capt.  E.  E.  Bar- 
ton      89 

Company  C,  Non-Com.  Officers    92 
Company     D,     Commissioned 

Officer's 76 

Company  D 80 

Company  E,  Commissioned  Of- 
ficers   272 

Company  E,  Non-Cpm.  Officers  279 
Company  F,  Commissioned  Of- 
ficers      51 

Company  F,  Non-Com.  Officers  377 

Company  F 71 

Company    G,     Commissioned 

Officers 109 

Company  G,  Non-Com.  Officers  376 

Company  G 462 

Company     H,    Commissioned 

Officers 223 

Company  H . . . '. 229 

Company  I,  Commissioned  Of- 
ficers    142 

Company  I,  Non-Com.  Officers  116 

Company  1 151 

Company     K,     Commissioned 
Officers . .  .160 


INDEX. 


Company  K. . . ; 162 

Company     L,     Commissioned 

Officers 36 

Qompany     L,      Non-Commis- 

sioned  Officers 39 

Company  L 45 

Company   M,      Commissioned 

Officers 197 

Company    M,      Non-Commis- 

sioned  Officers. 215 

A  Company  Street   in   Camp 

Cuba  Libre 300 

A  Company   Street   in   Camp 

Columbia— Drill    Hour 326 

A  Hungry  Trio 349 

A  Mixed  Race 426 

Andel,  Col.  Casimir 7 

Band 394 

Barn,  Ruins  of  a  Cuban 341 

Barbed  Wire  Defense 443 

Before  and  After  Fumigation .   106 
Breaking  Camp  at  Springfield, 

Jacksonville 301 

Blanket     Drill,    or    Kangaroo 

Court 305 

Blackwell,  Sam 390 

Bennett,  Major  L.  E 10 

Boneyard,  Human 435 

Boneventura  Cemetery 439 

Boarding  a  Transport 315 

Block  House 425 

Bugle  Corps 285 

Camp  Barber  Shop 357 

Camp   Columbia 12 

Camp  McKenzie 372 

Camp  at  Mountain  Cut 335 

Camp  at  Mountain  Pass 343 

Cathedral,  Interior  of 433 

Corral,  Fourth    Illinois 356 

Corduroy  Bridge,  Panama  Park  298 

Cuban   Soldiers 421 

Cuban  Soldiers' Camp 422 

Donlan,  Lieutenant 397 

Elliott,  Major  E.  E 194 

Engelman.  Miss  J 406 

Evers.  J.  U 410 

Fast  Mail 297 

Foot-ball  Team 443 

Fatigue  Duty 302 

Galbraith,  Lieut.  C.'M 397 

Guard  Mount 324 

Grayback,  A 444 

Giving  an   Order 351 

Hangman's  Tree 430 

Hilgard,  Lieut.  G.  E 397 

Hospital,  Fourth  111.,  Cuba 402 


Hungry  Cubans 349" 

Lang,  Major  E.  J 99 

Lee,  Brig.  Gen.  Fitzhugh 2 

McWilliams,  Lieut.-Col 9- 

McCord,  Major  M.  D 397 

Maine  Graves 438 

Margaret,  Transport 371 

Map  of  Camp  Columbia 12" 

Military  Road 332 

Mobile'Off  for  Cuba 316 

Mobile  Entering  Havana  Har- 
bor   208 

Moro  Castle 388 

Mountain  Cut 334 

North  Gate,  Camp  Columbia. .  325 
On   Guard— Early   Morning..  354 

Ox  Cart,  Georgia 428 

Parker,  Capt.  H.  S .. 

Poems , 378 

Plowing   in   Cuba 427 

Quartermaster's   Store  House, 

Quemados 432 

Quarantine  Camp 369 

Ready    for  the   March.     (Re- 
ferred to  on  page  302) 304 

Ruins  of  a  Cuban  Barn 341 

San  Jose  Espigon 321 

Snakes  and  Other  Trophies..  347 

Seasick , 104 

Scene  in  Panama  Park 299 

Skinner,  Capt.  J.  R 409 

Skirmish  Drill 303 

Swift,   Col.  Eben 8 

Swiping  a  Porker 339 

Storm  at  Third  Division  Hos- 
pital   294 

Street    Scene   at    Drill    Hour, 

Cuba 336 

Sunset — From   the  Maine....     30 

Snyder,   Capt.  Al 390 

Tandem  Team 428 

Transport   Whitney 365 

Thatched  Hut 429 

Todd,  Capt.  H.  W 409 

United  States  Military  Ceme- 
tery   389 

Vento  Springs 441 

Wagon  Train  on  the  Way  to 

Camp 322 

Wagon  Train  and  North  Mt. .  345 

Washburn,  Lieut 

Wreck  of  Water  Tank 329 

Wreck  of  the   Maine 319 

Whitney,  The  Transport ....  365 
Yarmouth,  The  Transport. . . .  103 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  Gospel  Tent 414 


SEVENTH  ARMY  CORPS. 


FITZHUGH    LEE. 

Major-General  Fitzhugh  Lee,  commanding  the  Seventh 
Army  Corps,  is  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  figures  in  the 
country  to-day.  For  three  years,  as  consul-general  to 
Havana,  he  represented  the  United  States  in  the  unhappy 
island  of  Cuba  during  the  desperate  struggle  that  reduced 
it  to  a  land  of  mourning  and  desolation. 

He  left  the  island  with  the  withdrawal  of  diplomatic 
relations  between  this  country  and  Spain  on  the  eve  of  the 
outbreak  of  hostilities,  and  he  now  returns  at  the  head  of 
the  army  of  occupation,  and  as  military  governor  of  Havana 
province  will  direct  the  fortunes  of  the  people  in  that  part 
of  Spain's  richest  dependencies. 

So  eminent,  courageous  and  diplomatic  were  his  serv- 
ices that  he  possessed  the  confidence  of  not  only  two 
administrations,  but  of  the  whole  country  as  well. 

General  Lee  is  a  typical  American,  patriotic  and  mag- 
nanimous, as  great  in  forbearance  as  he  is  valorous  in  the 
defense  of  the  principles  of  justice  and  humanity,  char- 
acteristics which  made  him  invaluable  to  his  country  in  the 
post  which  he  held  during  the  critical  period  preceding  the 
Spanish-American  war. 

A  soldier  by  birth  and  education,  General  Lee  is  a 
type  of  Virginia's  best  blood.  He  was  born  in  Fairfax 
county  November  19,  1835;  was  graduated  from  West  Point 
in  1856,  and  commissioned  second  lieutenant  of  the  Second 

Cavalry,  serving  in  the  west  against  the  Indians,  where  he 
2 


18  HISTORY    OF    THE 

was  severely  wounded.  Upon  his  return  to  duty  he  was 
ordered  to  West  Point  as  instructor  of  cavalry,  where  he 
remained  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he 
exchanged  the  service  of  the  Union  for  that  of  the  Con- 
federacy, and  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  a  cav- 
alry corps.  He  served  as  adjutant-general  of  Ewell's 
brigade  a  short  time,  when  he  was  made  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  First  Virginia  Cavalry,  and  after  less  than  a  year's 
service  was  advanced  to  a  colonelcy.  He  was  made  a 
brigadier-general  in  July,  1862,  and  the  following  year  a 
major-general.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  Winchester, 
after  three  horses  had  been  shot  under  him,  and  was  dis- 
abled for  several  months.  During  the  closing  days  of  the 
war  he  had  command  of  -the  cavalry  corps  of  Northern 
Virginia,  which  he  surrendered  to  General  Meade. 

After  some  years  of  retirement  following  the  declara- 
tion of  peace,  which  he  spent  on  his  farm,,  he  began  to 
take  an  active  part  in  the  politics  of  his  state,  and  was 
elected  governor  in  1885  for  a  term  of  four  years.  The 
year  following  the  expiration  of  his  term  as  governor,  he 
led  the  troops  of  his  state  at  the  Washington  centennial 
celebration  in  New  York  City,  and  received  an  ovation 
second  to  that  accorded  to  no  public  man  present.  After 
that  he  retired  from  the  public,  and  until  his  appointment 
as  consul-general  to  Havana  by  President  Cleveland  in 
1894  he  led  a  quiet  life. 

It  is  one  of  the  fortunes  of  war  that  General  Lee 
should  command  the  army  of  occupation  in  Havana  prov- 
ince, where  he  was  accorded  such  scant  courtesy  by  the 
proud  and  haughty  captain-generals  of  Spain,  who  afflicted 
with  misrule  and  were  a  terror  to  its  down-trodden  and 
unhappy  people,  and  should  bring  to  them  the  protection 
of  the  United  States,  looking  to  a  peaceful  and  stable  gov- 
ernment. During  the  months  of  December,  1898,  and 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  19 

January,  1899,  General  Lee  and  the  regiments  composing 
his  command  landed  in  the  city  of  Havana,  from  which 
but  a  few  months  previous  he  had  left  under  the  frown  of 
Spanish  authority,  but  now  receiving  the  welcome  of  a  long- 
expectant  and  long-misruled  people. 

He  took  up  his  headquarters  in  a  former  Spanish-Cuban 
mansion  at  the  Beuna  Vista  station,  on  the  Marianao  rail- 
road, some  four  and  a  half  miles  northwest  of  Havana, 
where,  in  a  beautiful  and  spacious  camp,  he  was  surrounded 
by  the  troops  under  his  command,  and  where  he  remained 
until  his  corps  was  disbanded  and  returned  to  the  United 
States  in  May,  1899. 

[The  above  was  copied  in  the  main  from  a  "  History  of  the  Seventh 
Army  Corps,"  published  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  in  1898.] 


HENRY  T.  DOUGLAS. 

Brig. -Gen.  Henry  T.  Douglas  was  born  and  educated 
in  Virginia.  During  the  Civil  war,  having  fitted  himself 
for  the  work  of  a  civil  engineer,  he  was  placed  in  the  Corps 
of  Engineers,  C.  S.  A.,  serving  on  the  staffs  of  Generals 
McGruder,  A.  P.  Hill,  G.  W.  Smith  and  E.  Kirby  Smith. 

His  military  service  began  with  the  commission  of 
second  lieutenant  of  engineers,  C.  S.  A.,  in  which  position 
his  services  were  of  such  merit  as  led  to  his  promotion  to 
that  of  a  colonelcy  before  peace  was  an  assured  fact  be- 
tween the  contending  states. 

At  the  close  of  the  civil  strife,  or  in  1866,  he  resumed 
his  chosen  profession  as  civil  engineer  and  continued  in  it 
until  1898,  when  he  was  commissioned  brigadier-general  of 
rolunteers  and  assigned  to  duty  as  commander  of  the  Sec- 
ond Brigade,  First  Division,  Seventh  Army  Corps,  and 
accompanied  General  Lee  into  the  island  of  Cuba,  remain- 


2O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ing  with  his  command  until  the  army  of  occupation  was 
broken  up  and  returned  to  the  states,  from  which  a  few 
months  previously  they  had  gone  out. 

General  Douglas  was  filling  the  responsible  position 
of  chief  engineer  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad  and 
the  Southern  railway  when  he  was  called  to  the  service  of 
the  United  States. 


CASIMIR  ANDEL. 

Col.  Casimir  Andel  was  born  in  Germany  near  Bingen 
on  the  Rhine  in  1840.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1858, 
stayed  in  Evansville,  Indiana,  until  1859,  when  he  came 
to  Bellville,  Illinois,  where  he  entered  upon  mercantile  pur- 
suits. In  response  to  President  Lincoln's  first  call  for  sev- 
enty thousand  volunteers,  Colonel  Andel  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  Company  A,  of  the  Ninth  Illinois  Volunteers,  April 
17,  1861.  A  few  days  later  he  did  his  first  guard  duty  at 
the  main  entrance  to  the  fair  grounds  at  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois. He  had  orders  not  to  let  anybody  pass  after  dark 
without  the  countersign.  Shortly  after  dark  a  civilian,  rid- 
ing a  military  equipped  horse  tried  to  force  his  way,  and 
not  paying  any  attention  to  the  sentinel's  challenge,  had 
his  horse  stabbed  in  the  neck  by  the  sentinel's  bayonet. 
For  this  deed  Andel  was  promoted  corporal  the  next  day 
by  Col.  August  Mersy.  When  the  Ninth  Illinois  Regiment 
was 'mustered  out  July  26,  1861,  Andel  joined  the  Twelfth 
Missouri  Regiment,  which  was  just  organizing  in  St.  Louis, 
as  he  was  anxious  to  meet  the  enemy  in  the  field  and  afraid 
that,  if  he  would  re-enlist  in  the  Ninth  Illinois  Regiment, 
he  would  be  doomed  to  remain  in  Cairo  to  the  end  of  the 
war.  August  8th  he  was  mustered  in  as  sergeant  of  Com- 
pany B,  Twelfth  Missouri  Infantry.  After  the  battle  of 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  21 

Pea  Ridge  there  were  three  lieutenancies  vacant  for  which 
there  were  sixty  applicants.  Sergeant  Andel,  having  passed 
the  best  examination,  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant 
of  Company  A. 

At  the  bloody  charge  on  the  22nd  of  May,  1863,  Lieu- 
tenant Andel  was  shot  through  the  upper  right  arm  while 
charging  a  rebel  battery  near  Vicksburg,  Mississippi.  He 
fell  a  few  yards  in  front  of  the  enemy's  works  while  attempt- 
ing to  step  over  a  large  fallen  tree.  Seeing  the  impossi- 
bility of  taking  said  battery,  he  lay  flat  on  the  ground  with 
his  command  (his  captain  having  been  wounded  and  retired 
previously)  from  about  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  until 
dark,  thereby  keeping  the  rebels  from  firing  upon  our 
retreating  columns,  as  the  ground  was  very  steep  and  the 
rebels  were  compelled  to  expose  the  whole  upper  part  of 
their  bodies  in  order  to  use  their  guns  effectively.  In  this 
way  the  wounded  and  dead  and  even  the  scattered  arms 
could  be  removed  from  the  field  without  any  further  cas- 
ualties. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  1863,  Lieutenant  Andel  received 
a  commission  as  first  lieutenant  of  Company  C,  which  was 
endorsed  in  red  ink:  "For  gallant  conduct  in  the  actions 
before  Vicksburg,  Mississippi." 

During  the  Yazoo  expedition  the  Twelfth  Missouri 
Regiment  was  detailed  to  do  duty  on  the  so-called  Mosquito 
fleet  as  artillery.  Lieutenant  Andel  had  occasion  to  act  as 
"officer  of  the  deck  "  several  times.  Later  on  he  was  or- 
dered to  report  to  Gen.  Peter  Joseph  Osterhaus  as  aid-de- 
camp, in  which  capacity  he  served  until  his  regiment  was 
mustered  out  before  Atlanta,  Georgia,  in  September,  1864. 
May  1 6,  1864,  Lieutenant  Andel  was  commissioned  captain 
of  Company  D,  but  never  commanded  that  company.  He 
took  part  in  all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  in  which  the 
Twelfth  Missouri  Regiment  participated  except  from  May 


22  HISTORY   OF   THE 

22,  1863,  to  the  end  of  August  of  the  same  year,  during 
which  time  he  was  at  home  under  surgical  treatment.  Dur- 
ing the  coal  miners'  strike  in  1894,  Company  A,  Belleville 
guards,  were  organized  for  the  protection  of  life  and  prop- 
erty and  Casimir  Andel  was  unanimously  elected  their  cap- 
tain, although  not  present  at  the  citizens'  meeting. 

During  the  railroad  strike  in  1877,  Captain  Andel's 
Company  A  did  service  from  July  23d  to  August  8th,  partly 
in  East  St.  Louis  and  partly  in  Belleville. 

After  the  strike  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  Illinois  National 
Guards,  was  organized,  and  Captain  Andel  was  elected  colo- 
nel, although  not  an  applicant  and  not  present  at  the  offi- 
cers' meeting. 

On  March  ist,  1894,  Company  D,  Fourth  Regiment,  was 
organized  and  Colonel  Andel  was  elected  captain,  although 
not  a  member  and  not  wishing  the  position.  He  refused  at 
first,  but  was  finally  persuaded  by  Col.  Hugh  Bayle,  then 
assistant  adjutant-general  of  the  state,  to  accept  with  the 
condition,  however,  that  his  resignation  would  be  accepted 
any  time  after  three  months.  When  the  time  came,  Com- 
pany D  was  ordered  to  Carterville  and  Mounds,  and,  of 
course,  the  Captain  could  not  resign.  He  did  so,  however, 
on  March  ist,  1895,  having  served  just  one  year  in  the  Fourth 
Illinois  National  Guard  Regiment,  quitting  military  life  for 
good,  as  he  then  thought. 

But  now  came  the  war  with  Spain.  Governor  Tanner 
offered  Colonel  Andel  command  of  the  Fourth  Illinois  Reg- 
iment, and  the  Colonel's  patriotism  would  not  permit  him 
to  refuse.  He  accepted  and  left  a  few  days  later  with  his 
regiment  for  Cuba,  as  he  then  thought.  His  original  orders 
were  to  report  to  General  Shafter,  at  Tampa;  this  order 
was  changed,  however,  when  the  regiment  reached  Albany, 
Georgia,  orders  from  war  department  directed  the  fourth 
Illinois  to  Jacksonville,  Florida,  to  report  to  General  Law- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  23 

ton.  General  Lawton  was  superseded  by  General  Arnold 
when  the  regiment  arrived,  to  whom  Colonel  Andel  reported. 
He  had  a  very  poor  camping  ground  assigned,  but  tried  to 
make  the  best  of  it  by  ditching  and  elevating  the  low  places. 
His  men  went  to  work  with  a  will  and  created  one  of  the 
prettiest  camping  grounds  in  the  vicinity  in  a  very  short 
time. 

Colonel  Andel  went  with  his  regiment  to  Savannah, 
Georgia,  and  remained  until  November  I7th,  1898,  when  he 
resigned,  the  war  being  virtually  over  and  his  presence  be- 
ing needed  more  at  home  than  in  the  field. 

Before  he  left  his  regiment,  to  which  he  was  very  much 
attached,  he  secured  the  colonelcy  of  the  same  for  Lieut.  - 
Col.  Ebner  Swift,  of  the  Ninth  Illinois  Regiment,  a  distin- 
guished officer  of  the  United  States  Army,  who  had  seen 
actual  service  in  the  field.  Upon  his  return  home  Colonel 
Andel  took  charge  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Belleville, 
Illinois,  whose  cashier  he  has  been  for  a  quarter  of  a  cent- 
ury. 

EBEN  SWIFT. 

Colonel  Eben  Swift,  who  was  the  second  and  last 
commander  of  this  regiment  during  its  history  as  a  part  of 
the  United  States  Volunteer  Army,  was  born  in  Texas,  his 
father  at  the  time  holding  a  commission  as  major  in  the 
United  States  service. 

He  was  appointed  by  General  Grant  as  a  cadet-at- 
large  to  the  Military  Academy,  at  West  Point,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1876,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Fifth  United 
States  Cavalry  as  a  second  lieutenant.  In  January,  1878, 
was  appointed  regimental  adjutant,  and  acted  in  this 
capacity  until  1887;  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  in 
October,  1884,  and  to  that  of  captain  in  December,  1893. 


24  HISTORY    OF    THE 

In  May,  1898,  he  entered  the  United  States  volunteer 
service  as  a  major  in  the  Seventh  Illinois,  and  in  July  he 
was  promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Ninth  Illinois, 
and  in  November  of  the  same  year  was  commissioned  colo- 
nel of  the  Fourth  Illinois. 

Prior  to  his  entering  the  volunteer  service,  he  took 
part  in  the  field  in  Wyoming,  Idaho,  Nebraska  and  Colo- 
rado, in  the  movements  again  the  Sioux,  Cheyenne,  Ban- 
nock, Nez  Perces  and  Ute  Indians,  up  to  and  including  the 
year  1879;  and  in  frontier  garrison  service  to  the  year  1887. 
From  this  date  up  to  1890  he  filled  the  position  of  aid-de- 
camp on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Wesley  Merritt;  engaging  in 
field  and  garrison  duty  in  Oklahoma  and  Indian  Territory 
to  1893,  and  as  assistant  instructor  in  Military  Art  in  the 
United  States  Infantry  and  Cavalry  School  at  Fort  Leaven- 
worth,  Kansas,  to  1897,  when  he  was  placed  on  duty  with 
the  Illinois  National  Guards,  where  he  rendered  efficient 
service  up  to  the  date  of  his  muster  into  the  volunteer  serv- 
ice of  the  United  States. 


HARRY  S.   PARKER. 

Captain  Harry  S.  Parker  is  a  son  of  Richland  county, 
Illinois,  having  been  born  therein  on  the  3d  of  January, 
1871.  During  the  year  following,  his  parents  moved  with 
their  family  to  Effingham,  his  present  home,  where  he  pur- 
sued the  elementary  branches  in  the  city  public  schools, 
but  before  completing  the  course  of  study  laid  down  in 
these  schools,  he  sought  the  larger  sphere  of  education  in 
the  Oakdale  school  at  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  and  later 
attended  night  school  in  his  home  city,  while  the  days  he 
spent  working  in  the  shops  of  the  Vandalia  Railraad;  also 
attended  Austin  College  for  a  time  and  studied  law  with  the 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  25 

Wood  Bros,  of  Effingham, — doing  office  work  at  the  time; 
also  spent  one  year  in  the  Kent  Law  School  of  Chicago, 
Illinois.  In  February,  1896,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar, 
and  June  i,  of  the  same  year,  opened  a  law  office  in  the 
city  of  his  childhood.  He  became  a  charter  member  of 
Company  G,  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guards,  in  the  early 
part  of  1892,  as  a  private,  being  made  first  sergeant  in 
May,  and  was  discharged  in  September,  of  the  same  year, 
in  order  to  attend  school.  Reenlisted  in  June,  1893,  and 
was  made  sergeant  major  of  the  Third  Battalion  and  on 
Thanksgiving  day  of  the  same  year  was  commissioned  a 
captain  and  made  regimental  adjutant.  During  his  mili- 
tary career  he  has  served  under  Colonels  R.  M.  Smith  and 
J.  B.  Washburn  in  the  Illinois  National  Guards,  and  after 
being  mustered  into  the  United  States  service,  with  the 
regiment  on  May  20,  1898,  under  Colonels  Casimir  Andel 
and  Eben  Swift,  mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  under 
the  last  named,  at  Augusta,  Georgia,  May  2,  1899,  having 
spent  almost  one  year  as  a  United  States  volunteer. 


FIRST  BATTALION. 


BEGINNING    APRIL    4,    1899. 

The  suspense  under  which  we  had  been  resting,  or 
trying  to  rest  submissively  and  patiently,  was  broken  on 
the  morning  of  April  4th,  about  i  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, when  we  received  orders  to  be  ready  with  all  our  be- 
longings, which,  in  this  land  of  souvenir  gathering,  had 
grown  to  no  small  proportions,  including  tentage  and  cook- 
ing apparatus.  It  need  scarcely  be  said  that  the  boys 
responded  to  this  order  with  an  eagerness  and  alacrity  that 
did  not  always  characterize  them  when  the  call  to  fatigue, 
drill  or  dress  parade  went  echoing  down  the  streets  of  our 
camp.  Accordingly,  every  man  was  on  the  move  by 
4:30  o'clock,  getting  that  part  of  the  regimental  menag- 
erie belonging  to  this  battalion  and  the  many  other  articles 
of  more  or  less  usefulness  and  importance  to  the  soldier 
who  is  out  in  defense  of  his  country's  flag  and  honor,  into 
condition  for  evacuation  of  camp  at  Buena  Vista,  and  our 
initial  march  on  the  "  Home,  Sweet  Home  "  trip. 

Having  answered  the  familiar  call  of  "soupy,  soupy, 
soupy,"  at  5:30  o'clock,  at  6  the  wagon  train  began  to 
make  its  appearance  on  the  scene  and  very  soon  willing 
hands,  moved  by  gladdened  hearts,  were  stowing  away  tents, 
trunks  and  boxes,  in  fact,  about  everything  that  a  soldier 
thinks  he  needs  as  a  necessary  baggage  equipage,  in  the 
large  land  ships  of  Uncle  Sam's  army,  and  about  9  the 
driver's  yell  and  snap  of  whip,  opened  the  throttle  of  his 
four-muled  power  motor  and  the  long  train  moved  out  on 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  2J 

the  old  military  road,  over  which  Spain  had  so  recently 
moved  her  war  equipments  for  a  similar  purpose,  to  its  des- 
tination at  the  dock  on  Havana  bay,  where  our  valuables 
were  placed  on  lighters  and  towed  out  into  the  harbor, 
stowed  away  on  the  steamer  that  was  to  bear  us  on  our 
homeward  journey.  As  soon  as  the  wagon  train  had  gotten 
out  of  the  way,  our  battalion  was  formed  into  line, 
equipped  in  light  marching  order  and  the  commanding 
voice  of  Major  Bennet  was  heard  in  those  old  familiar  words 
that  never  sounded  better,  "  battalion  attention,"  and  every 
fellow  straightened  up  to  his  best  proportions,  awaiting  the 
next  command  that  started  our  feet,  in  unison  with  our 
minds,  on  the  long  desired  march  toward  our  "  own  beloved 
home."  The  march  of  six  and  one  half  kilometers  over  the 
military  road  to  the  quaint,  old  city  of  Havana,  was  made 
without  accident,  or  even  incident  of  unusual  note,  except 
the  limestone  dust  from  the  pike  that  rose  in  clouds  and 
was  driven  about  us  and  into  our  faces  by  the  strong  breeze 
that  fanned  us,  under  the  heat  of  the  tropical  April  sun. 
Near  noon  we  filed  in  through  the  iron  gates  opening  to  the 
commodious  sheds  in  connection  with  the  San  Jose  docks 
where  our  now  weary  feet  first  tread  on  Cuban  territory 
twelve  weeks  previous,  and  truly  the  shade  and  refreshing 
breeze  from  the  bay  were  welcome  friends. 

After  some  four  and  one  half  hours  of  rest  and  waiting 
the  bugle  call  aroused  us,  and  our  packs  and  guns  were 
soon  in  place  on  sturdy  shoulders  and  we  were  moving 
with  quick  step  on  the  two  United  States  tugs  that  had  just 
run  alongside  the  docks  to  carry  us  out  on  the  bay  near  the 
remains  of  the  fated  Maine,  where  the  Whitney,  a  steamer 
of  the  Plant  Line,  dressed  in  war  paint,  lay  at  anchor  await- 
ing her  priceless  cargo.  She  is  a  ship  of  medium  size,  side- 
wheeler,  a  fact  that  almost  made  some  of  the  boys  sick  as 
they  thought  how  easily  she  would  rock  and  toss  to  the  roll- 


28  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ing  waves  that  began  to  rise*  and  fall,  in  their  imagination, 
until  their  crested  heads  threatened  to  pass  over  us.  Dis- 
approvals of  her  as  a  boat  unworthy  of  such  a  cargo,  were 
not  unfrequently  heard  as  we  approached  her  and  took  in 
her  dimensions  and  exterior  appearance,  but  on  entering 
her  hull  these  remarks  and  gibes  gave  way  to  expressions 
of  approval  and  surprise  at  her  commodious  and  cleanly 
quarters,  so  different  from  the  great  transport  that 
carried  us  into  this  port;  yet,  perhaps  in  this,  only  be- 
cause we  were  not  so  numerous  a  quantity  in  comparison 
to  the  space  to  be  occupied,  for  it  was  not  known  to  many 
of  us  up  to  this  time  that  Company  C  was  dropped  out  to 
accompany  the  Second  Battalion,  which  marched  into  the 
dock  sheds,  weary  and  dust  stained,  just  before  our  depart- 
ure and  whose  wagon  train  was  being  unloaded  as  we  took 
our  departure  from  the  docks.  It  was  therefore  the  honor 
of  Companies  L,  F  and  D  to  accompany  headquarters  and 
our  efficient  band;  also  we  had  the  pleasure  of  the  company 
of  J.  A.  Hardin,  second  lieutenant  of  Company  D,  First 
North  Carolina  Volunteer  Infantry,  of  Reidsville,  North 
Carolina,  who  had  been  on  detached  duty  to  the  Tenth 
United  States  Infantry  and  who  was  assigned  to  our 
regiment  for  return  to  his  own  regiment  at  Savannah. 
Also  Clark  M.  Carr,  first  lieutenant  Company  L,  Ninth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  of  Galesburg,  was  assigned  to 
this  regiment  for  transportation  on  his  way  to  Washing- 
ton, answering  an  order  looking  to  a  position  in  the  reg- 
ular army. 

On  board  the  Whitney,  we  found  her  appointments 
for  the  accommodation  of  soldiers  not  the  equal  of  those  of 
the  Mobile,  but  which  lack  was  fully  overcome  by  our 
more  roomy  quarters  and  the  liberties  accorded  to  us,  for 
we  were  excluded  only  from  the  dining  room  and  middle 
aft  deck,  which  was  assigned  to  headquarters.  But  we 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  29 

had  not  been  aboard  long  until  the  "pipe"  was  heard  on 
many  lips,  "Well,  we  are  doomed  to  stay  in  the  harbor  all 
night,  for  the  commissary  stores  are  not  here  yet,  and  we 
can't  leave  after  sundown." 

This  heart -saddening  rumor  grew  out  of  the  fact  that 
it  was  nearing  that  time,  and  by  harbor  laws  no  vessel 
bound  for  another  port  could  leave  after  that  hour.  But 
our  ship's  commander  was  a  man  who  well  knew  how  to 
meet  such  emergencies,  and  accordingly  about  that  hour 
weighed  anchor  for  the  start.  Just  as  the  sun,  like  a  great 
ball  of  fire,  was  slooping  down  behind  a  covering  of  fleecy 
clouds,  as  if  to  hide  himself  from  the  scene,  made  so  grandly 
beautiful  by  his  mellowed  rays,  our  boat  moved  alongside 
the  United  States  steamer  Resolute,  which  fired  for  us  a 
parting  salute,  and  out  under  the  frowning  walls  of  old 
Morro  into  the  open  sea  we  steamed,  just  three  months, 
lacking  one  day,  from  the  time  of  our  entrance.  Nothing 
eventful  occurred  save  seasickness  that  got  hold  of  some  of 
our  boys  almost  at  the  thought  of  being  on  the  ocean,  until 
the  morning  of  Wednesday.  While  the  captain  and  purser 
of  our  boat,  the  colonel,  staff  and  line  officers  were  regaling 
themselves  at  the  morning  feast,  when  a  sudden  racket  on 
the  hurricane  deck  attracted  the  eyes  of  all  at  the  table  to 
the  skylight  above,  revealing  to  the  experienced  officers 
that  something  was  not  moving  smoothly,  and  at  once  the 
officer  of  the  day  and  guard  were  hastily  despatched  to 
the  scene  to  learn  the  cause  and  give  what  assistance  was 
necessary.  It  turned  out  that  a  couple  of  the  boys  who 
wore  red  and  white  stripes  on  their  pants  and  do  the  blow- 
ing for  the  regiment,  were  discussing  the  propriety  of  set- 
tling a  slight  difference  between  them  in  a  hand-to-hand 
set-to.  The  officer  of  the  day  granted  them  full  permis- 
sion to  do  so,  but  requested  them  to  get  off  the  boat,  lest 
they  should  accidentally  knock  someone  overboard.  This 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  31 

seemed  to  cool  their  blood  or  something  else,  and  in  an 
hour  or  two  they  were  aiding  in  a  concert  on  the  aft  deck 
of  the  officers'  apartment. 

By  9  o'clock  the  ship  was  tossing  and  swaying  con- 
siderable to  the  motion  of  the  water,  that  was  dancing  to  a 
strong  breeze  from  the  Florida  coast,  having  passed  Key 
West  light  at  5  A.  M. ,  and  aside  from  the  crew  that  did 
not  wish  something  to  settle  his  stomach,  or  even  go  farther, 
was  the  exception  to  the  rule;  even  the  chaplain,  after  sev- 
eral hours'  fight  against  the  inevitable,  "heaved  up  Jonah," 
keeping  his  state  room,  as  did  many  others  during  the  day. 
About  5:30  on  Thursday  morning  we  sighted  a  light  house 
far  in  our  front  and  at  6:00  we  were  in  sight  of  land  which 
proved  to  be  Egmont  Key,  the  beginning  of  a  chain  of  islands 
lying  off  Tampa  and  forming  a  kind  of  breast  water  to  the 
main  land.  After  a  few  hours  a  tug  ran  along  side  and  we 
were  informed  that  we  would  soon  be  visited  by  a  lighter, 
that  would  carry  our  belongings  to  the  above  island,  where 
they  would  be  disinfected,  and  we  would  be  quarantined 
three  days  prior  to  going  to  Port  Tampa.  The  work  of 
unloading  continued  until  after  dark,  when  the  last  of  our 
companies  were  landed  by  a  tug  and  sought  out  quarters  in 
the  tents  erected  by  their  comrades  who  were  perhaps  unfor- 
tunate enough  to  get  off  the  boat  ahead  of  them.  While 
the  voyage  was  to  us  tedious,  owing  to  the  very  low  speed  of 
the  boat,  there  were  other  discomfitures  and  inconven- 
iences met  with  in  landing  and  getting  adjusted  in  our 
quarters  that  seemed  entirely  inexcusable,  owing  to  a  lack 
of  facilities  to  unload  the  lighters  at  the  docks,  where  one 
entire  load  and  part  of  another  remained  during  the  night, 
to  be  caught  in  one  of  those  terrible  down  pours  of  rain 
that  are  so  well  known  to  the  soldier  that  has  spent  any 
time  in  the  sand-clad  state  of  Florida.  During  the  day,  amid 
storm  and  rain,  the  unloading  of  lighters  went  slowly  on, 


32  HISTORY    OF    THE 

while  a  gang  of  government  employees  were  busily  engaged 
opening  trunks,  boxes  and  so  forth  and  subjecting  their 
contents  to  a  fumigating  process  that  consumed  hours  for 
each  batch  submitted  to  the  disinfecting  vault.  When,  as 
we  were  here  told,  the  government  had  at  an  immense  out- 
lay fitted  up  a  large  floating  disinfecting  station  and 
anchored  it  in  Havana  bay,  in  order  to  expedite  the  trans- 
fer of  troops  from  the  island,  one  wonders  at  our  being 
brought  here  where  facilities  are  so  meagre. 

From  the  wharf  we  were  marched  into  a  double  twilled 
barbed  wire  stockade,  carrying  on  its  front  a  kind  of  "don't 
you  try  it  "  appearance,  which  indicated  to  us  that  within 
these  limitations  our  days  of  quarantine  were  to  be  spent. 
During  this  time  Company  C  and  the  Second  Battalion  also 
came  ashore  and  entered  the  same  quarters,  pitching  their 
neighborly  tents  alongside  of  ours  ready  to  pass  the  ordeal 
with  us.  One  of  our  men,  after  expressing  his  opinion  of 
the  whole  matter,  suggested  the  propriety  of  writing  a  his- 
tory embodying  all  the  facts,  entitled  "The  Army  of  Occu- 
pation on  the  Island  of  Fumigation,  or  Three  Days  in  Hades. " 
How  this  embodied  the  views  and  feelings  of  all  concerned 
the  writer  is  not  able  with  certainty  to  say.  And  some- 
thing of  an  ordeal  it  was,  for  along  with  the  inconveniences 
of  landing  and  want  of  facilities  to  care  for  our  private 
belongings,  was  that  of  no  place  in  which  to  do  our  cook- 
ing. Consequently  when  the  rain  began  to  pour  down  in 
torrents  on  Friday  morning  with  a  heavy  sea  gale,  we  soon 
found  our  fires  in  a  sad  plight  and  our  breakfast  not  much 
better;  all  this,  with  the  brevity  of  rations  in  some  compan- 
ies, made  our"  home  coming,"  to  say  the  least,  unpleasant. 
For  the  wind  continued  its  heavy  gale  and  our  tent  flies 
flapped  and  cracked  like  the  wings  of  some  huge  bird  strug- 
gling to  destroy  its  antagonist  or  free  itself  from  an  unwel- 
come captor.  Yet  we  are  glad  to  say  that  in  Paul  M.  Car- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  33 

ington,  M..D., Surgeon  United  States  Marine  Hospital  serv- 
ice, and  his  able  corp  of  assistants,  we  met  with  kind,  gen- 
tlemanly and  hospitable  treatment,  doing  all  they  could  to 
make  our  stay  as  agreeable  and  pleasant  as  circumstances 
would  admit. 

After  spending  our  four  days  in  the  quarantine  corral, 
Monday  morning,  before  the  dawn  of  day,  the  gentle  voice 
of  the  soldier  could  be  heard  in  every  direction,  and  the 
blazing  fires  at  every  company's  quarters  told  that  the 
"  soup"  maker  was  at  his  task  of  preparing  an  early  break- 
fast, and  at  6  personal  baggage  began  to  find  its  way  to 
the  dock,  and  by  7:30  both  battalions  were  aboard  the  fine 
little  river  steamer  Margaret,  of  the  Plant  system,  and  a 
three  hours'  ride  on  a  calm  sea  brought  us  alongside  of  the 
commodious  docks  at  Port  Tampa,  Florida,  where  disem- 
barkation and  re-loading  of  men  and  baggage  was  hurried 
up  in  true  American  style,  which  put  us  in  readiness  on  a 
train  of  three  sections  for  our  trip  to  Savannah.  At  3:10 
the  wheels  were  in  motion,  rolling  us  over  the  sandy, 
wooded  plains  and  ridges,  and  among  the  swamps  and 
lakes  of  Florida,  at  a  rate  that  made  us  feel  that  we  were 
on  some  well  equiped  road  in  Illinois,  save  its  lack  of 
smoothness.  Night  threw  her  sable  curtains  gently  about 
us  after  a  hundred-mile  run  and  we  settled  down  for  our 
rest. 

Soon  after  leaving  Waycross,  just  over  the  border  line 
in  Georgia,  the  gray  dawn  became  visible,  soon  followed 
by  the  silver  bars  that  shot  up  the  sky  from  the  sun  that 
still  hid  his  face  below  the  horizon,  opening  to  our  view 
the  still  level,  pine-clad  plains  with  their  many  marshy 
tracts,  similar  to  that  which  was  hid  from  us  by  the  gentle 
dropping  of  the  pall  of  night.  Soon  after  sun-up  we 
crossed  the  broad,  clear  Savannah  river,  on  which  several 
small  boats,  occupied  by  four  or  six  negroes,  by  whom  they 

3 


34  HISTORY    OF    THE 

were  being  pulled  down  its  liquid  pathway,  yet  nothing 
about  the  scene  could  indicate  their  mission  or  their  desti- 
nation. Another  eventful  thing  occurred  during  this  run 
of  between  four  and  five  hundred  miles.  At  High  Springs, 
about  9:30  p.  M.,  Colonel  Wrenn,  general  superintend- 
ent of  the  Plant  system  of  transportation,  who  was  the 
guest  of  Colonel  Swift  on  this  trip,  took  him  and  his  staff 
to  the  hotel  for  dinner.  As  we  took  seats  about  the  neatly- 
spread  tables  that  reminded  one  of  home,  our  waiter  stood 
gazing  in  a  kind  of  blank,  astonished  way  upon  the  scene, 
the  very  picture  of  antiquation  or  a  slightly  back  number 
of  his  occupation.  But  no  sooner  was  he  addressed  by  one 
of  the  hungry  company  than  his  eyes  flashed  as  that  of  one 
of  his  color  only  could,  and  the  prompt  reply  that  came 
from  his  broad  mouth  at  once  awakened  our  curiosisy, 
which  was  soon  formed  into  a  chorus  of  suppressed  laugh- 
ter that  increased  into  almost  uproarious  bursts  as  one  after 
another  his  pert,  witty  and  philosophical  replies  came  with 
promptness  in  answer  to  questions  propounded,  or  as 
explanations  of,  or  comments  on,  the  "viands,"  as  he 
called  them,  with  which  he  was  regaling  us  in  no  sleepy 
fashion.  All  of  which  plainly  told  that  he  was  of  the  stamp 
of  Booker  T.  Washington,  or,  perhaps,  Frederick  Douglass. 
By  common  consent  it  was  voted  that  it  was  worth  more 
than  the  meal  cost  us  (we  being  Colonel  Wrenn's  guests) 
to  enjoy  the  rich,  spicy  wit  of  the  man  who,  on  passing  the 
first  dish,  nicely-fried,  juicy  steak,  remarked  that  they  had 
"other  viands  coming,"  and  they  came  in  profusion.  Re- 
turning to  the  train,  we  tried  to  hustle  the  porter  out  of  his 
easy-going  way  to  get  our  berths  ready  for  a  good  night's 
rest,  which  we  realized  on  the  following  morning  had  been 
ours.  We  had  not  proceeded  far  after  our  morning  Innch 
when  the  incident  of  the  trip  occurred  that  aroused  the  in- 
dignation of  about  every  man  on  board.  We  suddenly 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  35 

came  to  a  halt  at  Southover  Junction,  with  our  train 
headed  in  another  direction  than  that  of  Savannah,  which 
led  Colonel  Wrenn  to  hasten  to  the  head  of  the  train  to 
learn  the  cause,  only  to  return  in  a  few  minutes  to  inform 
us  that  our  destination  was  changed  to  Augusta,  Georgia, 
and  bid  us  good-bye.  This  not  only  called  for  a  change  in 
our  course,  like  Israel  at  the  borders  of  the  promised  land, 
but  also  to  part  company  with  Lieutenant  J.  A.  Hilden, 
whose  destination  was  Savannah. 

At  the  end  of  a  run  of  about  three  hours  we  found  our- 
selves passing  around  the  city  of  Augusta  on  a  serpent-like 
track  that  seemed  to  follow  the  streets  in  its  wanderings  to 
the  northwest,  for  a  distance  of  some  five  miles,  when  we 
side-tracked,  unloaded  and  were  soon  wending  our  way  up 
a  long  incline  to  the  top  of  a  large  sand  hill,  "Monte 
Sano,"  west  of  the  city,  where  we  found  in  camp  MacKen- 
zie  tents,  mess-shacks  and  other  conveniences  constituting 
a  good  camp  awaiting  us,  into  which  we  entered  and  began 
in  true  earnestness  the  unpacking  and  arranging  of  our 
varied  articles  so  essential  to  the  comfort  and  gratification 
of  an  American  soldier  of  "occupation."  While  sorely 
disappointed  over  not  getting  into  Savannah,  we  find 
Augusta  a  beautiful  city  of  some  fifty  thousand  inhabitants, 
located  in  the  beautiful  and  fertile  valley  of  the  Savannah 
river,  a  city  well  laid  out  and  of  modern  date  in  its  improve- 
ments. 


ISAAC  NEWTON   WILSON. 

Isaac  Newton  Wilson,  first  lieutenant  Company  L, 
was  born  at  Olney,  Illinois,  January  30,  1876,  attended  the 
Olney  public  school  until  1892,  when  he  entered  the  West- 
ern Military  Academy  at  Alton,  Illinois,  and  attended  that 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  37 

school  until  the  close  of  the  term  of  1895,  when  he  gradu- 
ated. Returning  to  Olney  he  was  active  in  the  formation 
of  Company  L,  Fourth  Regiment  State  Guards.  On  the 
call  for  troops  for  the  war  with  Spain  he  was  first  lieu- 
tenant of  Company  L,  and  was  with  the  company  until 
October,  1898,  when  he  was  seized  with  Durgue  fever  and 
on  the  advice  of  his  physician  he  resigned  his  commission, 
which  was  accepted  and  he  was  honorably  discharged  on 
the  29th  day  of  October,  1898,  with  the  brevet  rank  of  cap- 
tain. He  immediately  returned  to  Olney  to  recuperate  his 
health  and  in  the  month  of  December  of  that  year  he  went 
to  New  York  City,  and  entered  the  wholesale  commission 
house  of  Francis  McMulkin  &  Company. 


HOMER  C.   COEN. 

Homer  C.  Coen,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
near  Olney,  Illinois,  June  27,  1879,  spending  the  first  ten 
years  of  his  life  on  the  farm  where  he  was  born.  In  May, 
1895,  he  enlisted  in  Company  L,  Fourth  Illinois  National 
Guard,  and  in  June  of  the  same  year  was  promoted  to  the 
position  of  corporal,  continuing  as  such  until  the  old  com- 
pany was  discharged;  and  when,  on  the  23d  of  April,  1896, 
the  new  company,  bearing  the  same  letter,  was  formed,  he 
joined  it,  receiving  the  appointment  to  the  position  of  first 
sergeant. 

When  the  call  of  April  26,  1898,  for  volunteers  came 
he  was  in  attendance  at  school,  in  the  University  of  Illi- 
nois, where  he  held  the  position  of  corporal  in  the  com- 
pany of  cadets,  composed  of  students,  he  having  formerly 
completed  the  course  of  study  in  the  high  school  of  Olney, 
Illinois,  from  which  he  was  a  graduate.  His  company 
heeding  the  call,  entered  Camp  Tanner  at  Springfield, 


38  HISTORY    OF    THE 

where  three  days  later  he  joined  them  and  was  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States.  On  the  8th  of  Nov- 
ember, 1898,  he  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant  of 
the  company  at  Savannah.  Georgia,  which  he  held  until 
May  2,  1899,  when  with  his  comrades  he  was  mustered  out 
at  Augusta,  Georgia. 


, 

«/  fr 


COMPANY   L 


Company  L,  Fourth  Illinois,  was  organized  as  a  Guard 
company  at  Olney,  and  sworn  into  the  service  of  the  state 
of  Illinois  on  April  24,  1896,  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wash- 
burn,  with  Franz  Muench,  captain;  I.  N.  Wilson,  first 
lieutenant,  and  Rolla  N.  Hensley,  second  lieutenant. 
The  company  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Battalion, 
commanded  by  Major  McWilliams,  and  in  1897  was 
transferred  to  the  First  Battalion,  commanded  by  Major 
Bennet.  The  company  took  part  in  the  state  encamp- 
ment of  1896-97,  where  it  was  known  as  "The  Kid" 
Company  of  ths  Fourth.  After  the  destruction  of  the 
Maine,  Company  L  was  probably  the  first  company  of 
the  state  to  offer  its  services  to  Governor  Tanner.  Intense 
enthusiasm  prevailed  among  the  boys,  and  they  were 
drilled  in  all  kinds  of  tactics,  with  marches  in  heavy  order, 
and,  in  compliance  with  orders,  the  company  was  recruited 
to  one  hundred  men,  who  were  drilled  until  called  out. 

The  call  came  about  I  A.  M.  on  the  morning  of  the 
never-to-be-forgotten  26th  of  April,  and  the  news  was  an- 
nounced to  the  people  by  the  blowing  of  whistles  and  ring- 
ing of  bells.  The  town  was  in  a  frenzy  of  excitement 
when  the  company  left  at  8:30  P.  M.  for  Camp  Tanner,  via 
P.  D.  &  E. 

Arriving  at  Camp  Tanner  at  1 1  A.  M.,  on  the  27th, 
we  were  assigned  to  the  Holstein  barn  with  Company  G, 
of  Effingham,  where  we  took  up  our  quarters  as  high-graded 
stock.  Company  L,  as  every  other  company,  took  extra 
men  with  them  so  as  to  have  enough  to  pass  the  examina- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  41 

tion,  and  as  it  was  cold  and  raw,  quite  a  little  suffering  was 
caused  by  the  scarcity  of  blankets,  we  having  but  eighty- 
seven  for  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  men;  but  as  the 
days  wore  on  the  numbers  decreased,  as  many  were  sent 
home  as  were  undesirable,  and  others  being  homesick  and 
tired  of  the  army  ways  at  the  start;  but  only  two  of  the  old 
guards  failed  to  try  and  pass  the  examination.  Lieutenant 
Wilson  was  sent  home  for  more  men,  and  on  May  10  re- 
turned with  ten  recruits. 

At  last,  on  the  i6th  of  May,  the  company  was  exam- 
ined physically,  and  many  were  the  heart-broken  boys  who 
failed  to  pass  the  examination,  and  when  the  time  came 
for  them  to  part  from  their  more  fortunate  comrades  many 
broke  down  and  cried.  Company  L,  with  an  aggregate  of 
eighty-one  men  and  three  officers,  was  sworn  into  the  serv- 
ice of  the  United  States  with  the  remainder  of  the  First 
Battalion,  at  4  P.  M.  on  the  afternoon  of  the  ipth  of  May, 
the  Second  and  Third  being  mustered  in  on  the  2Oth. 

On  the  evening  of  the  2 5th  of  May,  orders  were  re- 
ceived to  go  to  Tampa,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  26th, 
the  regiment  was  started  on  its  triumphant  tour  through 
the  south.  Unfortunately,  at  Waycross,  Georgia,  orders 
were  received,  ordering  us  to  Jacksonville,  where  we  ar- 
rived on  the  2pth.  Here  we  were  assigned  to  the  Second 
Brigade,  Second  Division,  Seventh  Army  Corps,  and  bri- 
gaded with  the  First  Wisconsin  and  Fiftieth  Iowa,  com- 
manded by  Brigadier-General  Bancroft.  Under  general 
recruiting  orders,  Corporal  Robinson  was  sent  home  with 
Lieutenant  Schrader,  of  Company  D,  to  recruit  twenty-five 
men  for  Company  L,  who  were  enlisted  at  Olney,  on  June 
21,  reporting  at  Jacksonville,  June  25,  1898.  From  July 
.3  to  July  n,  Company  L  was  detailed  on  provost  duty, 
and  encamped  at  camp  "Hobo,"  in  East  Jacksonville. 
On  August  10,  camp  was  changed  from  Springfield  to  Pan- 


42  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ama,  as  the  Fourth  had  been  assigned  to  the  Second  Bir- 
gade,  Third  Division,  with  the  First  South  Carolina  and 
Sixth  Missouri,  commanded  by  General  Barkley. 

Captain  Muench  was  placed  in  command  of  the  First 
Battalion  from  August  25  to  September  16,  when  returned 
and  sent  home  on  a  sick  leave,  September  19,  Lieutenant 
Wilson  being  in  command  of  the  company.  Here  were 
spent  the  most  miserable  days  of  our  army  experience, 
with  half  the  company  on  the  sick  report,  and  seventeen 
down  with  typhoid  fever  in  the  Third  Division  hospital, 
and  some  furloughed;  a  few  only  were  left  able  for  duty. 
Twenty-four  out  of  a  total  strength  of  one  hundred  and 
six  were  all  Company  L  could  muster  for  the  grand  review 
before  General  Alger,  when  it  took  a  whole  battalion  to  * 
make  a  company,  and  where  the  regiment  passed  a  mere 
wreck  of  what  had  been  the  healthiest  in  the  service. 

Of  all  our  sick  only  one  succumbed  to  the  fever,  Bug- 
ler Louis  Lomelino,  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  who  died  at 
Third  Division  hospital,  September  29,  1898,  beloved  by 
every  boy  in  the  company,  for  a  better  fellow,  a  truer  sol- 
dier, or  a  braver  soldier  never  gave  his  life  for  his  country. 
On  the  26th  of  September  the  regiment  was  ordered  on 
provost,  and  Company  L  assigned  to  station  number  three, 
corner  of  Duvall  and  Palmetto  streets,  where  they  stayed 
until  the  Seventh  Army  Corps  was  ordered  to  Savannah, 
preparatory  to  embarking  for  Cuba.  While  on  provost  the 
regiment  was  assigned  to  Second  Brigade,  First  Division, 
with  Second  South  Carolina  and  Ninth  Illinois. 

On  October  22d,  the  regiment  was  ordered  on  provost 
in  Savannah,  and  was  the  first  regiment  to  meet  the  people 
of  that  place,  Company  L  being  assigned  to  station  number 
six,  corner  Barnard  and  Huntington  streets,  where  amid  a 
people  in  love  with  the  military,  and  endowed  by  nature 
with  hospitality,  the  boys  lived  a  life  of  the  blessed,  and 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  43 

in  return  amused  the  people  by  tossing  negroes  skyward  in 
a  blanket  (and  once  in  a  while  a  comrade  lately  returned 
from  a  furlough).  Never  will  the  boys  forget  the  Thanks- 
giving dinner  of  1898,  when  Southern  hospitality  proved  too 
much  even  for  a  Northern  soldier's  appetite,  and  Company 
L  left  the  table  hopelessly  defeated.  First  Lieutenant 
Wilson  resigned  while  stationed  here,  October  29.  On 
November  14,  First  Sergeant  Homer  Coen  was  appointed 
and  commissioned  second  lieutenant.  On  November  26 
the  regiment  was  relieved  from  provost  duty,  and  went 
into  Camp  Onward,  near  Dale  avenue.  Here  athletics 
took  the  lead  and  Company  L's  foot-ball  team  defeated 
Company  M's  by  a  score  of  ten  to  nothing. 

Camp  life  was  the  same  old  routine  of  drills,  marches 
and  parades,  but  at  last,  on  January  3d,  the  regiment  em- 
barked with  the  Ninth  Illinois  on  the  United  States  trans- 
port Mobile,  and  no  regiment  ever  left  Savannah  leaving 
behind  so  many  friends  or  was  accorded  a  more  loving  fare- 
well than  the  Fourth.  The  Mobile  reached  Havana  on  the 
5th,  and  on  the  6th  the  First  Battalion  marched  out  to 
Camp  Columbia  and  established  camp.  Here  in  a  strange 
country,  among  strange  people,  the  boys  enjoyed  them- 
selves for  three  months,  but  hailed  with  joy  the  order  to 
leave,  April  3d,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  4th,  just  as  the 
United  States  steamship  Resolute  was  firing  the  evening 
gun,  and  the  band  playing  the  Star  Spangled  Banner,  the 
First  Battalion,  on  board  the  Plant  Line  steamer  Whitney, 
steamed  out  of  Havana  Harbor,  bound  for  Tampa,  Florida, 
where  we  arrived  on  the  6th,  and  were  unloaded  and  de- 
tained three  days  on  the  United  States  Quarantine  Station, 
Egmont  Key,  the  dreariest  place  God  ever  created.  The 
First  and  Second  Battalions  left  Egmont  Key  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  loth,  and  were  loaded  on  the  Mobile  &  Ohio 
cars  at  Port  Tampa  and  taken  to  Camp  MacKenzie,  Au- 


44  HISTORY    OF    THE 

gusta,  Georgia,  where  we  arrived  April  nth.  Here  we 
were  encamped  until  mus'ered  out,  May  2d,  when  Com- 
pany L  returned  to  Olney,  Illinois,  as  a  body  and,  arriving 
there  on  the  4th,  were  received  by  the  entire  population  of 
the  city,  and  feasted  in  a  royal  manner.  Many  have  been 
the  ties  formed  within  the  last  year,  and  may  our  comrade- 
ship be  as  warm  as  that  which  characterizes  the  veterans 
of  1861  and  1865. 


COMPANY  L  ROSTER. 

Those  not  otherwise  mentioned  were  musjtered  into 
the  United  States  service  May  19,  1898,  and  mustered  out 
May  2,  1899.  The  figures  following  the  name  indicate  age- 

FRANZ  MUENCH,  Captain,  37,  Olney,  111.,  merchant. 

I.  N.  WILSON,  First  Lieutenant,  22,  Olney,  111.,  merchant; 
resigned  Oct.  29,  1898. 

ROLLA  HENSLEY,  Second  Lieutenant,  22,  Olney,  111.,  clerk; 
promoted  First  Lieutenant,  Nov.  12,  1898. 

HOMER  COEN,  First  Sergeant,  18,  Onley,  111.,  student;  pro- 
moted Second  Lieutenant,  Nov.  14,  1898. 

SERGEANTS. 

John  J.  Homer,  20,  Olney,  111.,  merchant;  appointed  First 

Sergeant,  Nov.  14,   1898;  discharged  Jan.  23,  1899. 
Elbert  Rowland,  20,    Olney.  111.,  student;  appointed  First 

Sergeant,  Jan.  23,   1899. 
Marshall  Wallis,  20,  Olney,  111.,  student;  reduced  to  ranks 

Sept.   10,  1898;  discharged  Nov.  3,   1898. 
George  Temple,  21,  Olney,  111.,  express  agent;    appointed 

Q.  M.    Sergeant,    Nov.    i;  relieved  Apr.  8,  1899. 

CORPORALS. 

Rolla  Dean,  20,  Olney,  111.,  carpenter;  appointed  artificer 
June  i,  1898;  discharged  March  31,  1899. 


.(f 


46  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Roy   Jones,    21,   Olney,    111.,  plasterer;    appointed  Corp., 

May  19,  1898;  appointed  Sergt.,  Sept.  10,   1898. 
Oscar    Kaufman,   20,   Olney,  111.,  clerk;  appointed  Q.    M. 

Sergt.    Apr.    8,    1898;    appointed    Sergt.,    Feb.    i, 
1899. 
Lynn  Barnard,  18,  Olney,  111.,  student:  appointed   Sergt., 

Dec.    i,  1898. 
Ross    Hensley,   25,   Olney,   111.,  express    agent;  appointed 

Q.    M.    Sergt.,    May    18,    1898;    relieved  as  Q.   M. 

Sergt.,  Nov.  i,  1898. 
William  McKnight,  20,   Ingraham,  111.,  student. 

MUSICIAN. 

Louis  Lomelino,  19,  Springfield,  111.,  bookkeeper.  Died 
at  Third  Div.  Hosp.,  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  Sept.  29, 
1898. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen,  James,  34,  Olney,  111.,  railroader;  appointed  Corp., 

July  13,  1898. 

Arnold,  Charles,  26,   Olney,   111.,  farmer;  appointed  Wag- 
oner, Feb.  i,  1899. 
Arnold,  John  D.,  25,  Olney,  111.,  farmer;  discharged  March  . 

24,  1899. 
Arnold,  Martin,  24,  Olney,  111.,  farmer;  discharged  March 

i,  1899- 

Barckman,  Isaac,  21,  Olney,  111.,  farmer. 
Barlow,  Ralph,  19,  Olney,   111.,  student;  appointed  Corp., 

Feb.  i,  1899. 
•Beck,  Clarence,  26,  Olney,  111.,  clerk;  discharged  Nov.  19, 

1898. 

Behymer,  Alvin,  30,  Noble,  111.,  railroader. 
Black,  David,  28,  Calhoun,   farmer;  transferred  to  Hosp. 

Corps,  June   10,  1898. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  47 

Busunder,  Ralph,  20,  Clay  City,  farmer;  transferred  to  First 

111.  Vol.  Cav.,  June  9,  1898. 
Byer,  John,  20,  Olney,  111.,  student;  appointed  Corp.,  June 

13,  1898;  discharged  March  15,  1899. 
Byers,   Lyman,  18,  Olney,  111.,  student;  discharged  Sept. 

16,  1898. 
Christy,    Earnest,    19,    Olney,    111.,    merchant;  appointed 

Corp.,  Sept.  10,  1898. 
Coen,  John  O.,  31,  Olney,   111.,  farmer;  appointed  Corp., 

Dec.  i,  1898. 

Cope,  Omer,  28,  Olney,  111.,  brickmason. 
Coventry,  Clinton  C. ,  23,   Olney,   111.,  teacher;  appointed 

Corp.,  Dec.    i,  1898. 

Duvall,  Edward  J.,  23,  Olney,  111.,  laborer. 
Eckenrode,  James  A.,  22,  Olney,  111.,  merchant. 
Edmiston,   Clarence,    20,   Olney,   111.,  student;  discharged 

Feb.  3,  1899. 

Evans,  Pearl,  27,  Noble,  111.,  railroader. 
Ewing,  Walter,  22,  Evansville,  Ind.,  embalmer;  transferred 

to  Hosp.  Corps,  June   10,  1898. 
Fishback,  Clyde,  18,  Olney,  111.,  student;  discharged  Sept. 

12,  1898. 
Fleming,  George,  19,  Olney,  111.,  student;  appointed  Corp., 

March  24,  1899. 

Frey,  Edward,  32,  Collinville,  111.,  farmer. 
Genoway,  Theodore,  23,  Passport,  111.,  farmer. 
Gordon,  Charles,  19,  Sumner,  111.,  baker,  discharged  Jan. 

24,  1899. 

Gross,  Edward  O.,  23,  Olney,  111.,  clerk. 
Guess,  Alma,  19,   Sumner,  111.,  painter. 
Harlan,   Andrew,   24,    Sumner,  111.,  laborer;   dishonorably 

discharged  Dec.  27,  1898. 
Harlan,  Samuel,  20,  Sumner,  111. ,  laborer. 


48  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Harmon,  Cameron,  22,  Ingraham,   III.,  farmer;  discharged 

Apr.  4,   1899. 

Harmon,  Harry,  24,  Olney,  111.,  laborer. 
Hans,  Rutherford,  21,  Parkersburg,  111.,  laborer;  appointed 

Corp.,  July  13,  1899. 

Heath,  Thomas,  23,   Claremont,  111.,  clerk. 
Heim,  John,  24,  Olney,   111.,  plasterer, 
laun,  Alexander,  24,  Olney.,  111.,  butcher. 
Kaser,  Jacob,  21,  Olney,  111.,  shoemaker. 
Kinkade,  John,  28,  Olney,  111.,  farmer;  discharged  Apr.  4, 

1899. 

Kinkade,  Robert,  32,  Olney,  111.,  Farmer. 
Kitch,  Roy  L. ,  22,  Cairo,  111.,  Clerk. 
Laws,  Alrnon,  23,  Sumner,  111.,  Painter. 
Laws,  Frederick,  20,  Sumner,  111.,  Stock  Buyer. 
Locke,  Harry,  18,  Olney,  111.,  Farmer. 
McCawley,  Barnard,  18,  Clay  City,  111.,  Laborer. 
Mather,  William  T.,  22,  Olney,  111.,  Barber. 
Newson,  Amos,  25,  Olney,  111.,  Farmer. 
Nickerson,    Charles,    18,    Olney,    111.,    Student;   appointed 

Corp.,  May  19,  1898. 
Pampe,  Louis,  22,  Parkersburg,  Farmer. 
Patterson,  William,  23,  Parkersburg,  Farmer. 
Petty,  Roy,  20,  Sumner,  111. ,  Engineer. 
Ridgley,  Archibald,  19,  Olney,  111.,  Student. 
Richey,  George,    19,  Olney,  111.,  Farmer. 
Robinson,  Richard,  21,  Olney,  111.,  Clerk;  appointed  Corp. 

July  13,   1898;  discharged  Nov.  3,  1898. 
Rose,    Thomas,    18,    Clay    City,    111.,    Laborer;  appointed 

Musician,  Nov.  6,  1898. 
St.  John,   Paul,  18,  Olney,  111.,  Student;  appointed  Corp. 

May  19,  1898. 
Beibold,  Frank,  19,  Olney,  111.,  Student;  discharged  March 

13,  1899. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  49 

Rhode,  Earl  S.,    20,   Olney,    111.,   Jurist;  appointed  Corp. 

July  13,   1898. 

Houston,  Jasper,  36,  Ingraham,  111.,  Farmer. 
Teney,  Harry,  20,  Olney,  111.,  Laborer. 
Terhune,    William,    30,    Sumner,    111.,    Farmer;  appointed 

Chief  Cook,  Feb.  I. 

Van  Scyoc,  Shannon,   28,  Sumner,  111.,  Clerk. 
Wallis,  Edward,  18,  Olney,  111.,  Student;  discharged  Nov., 

3,  1898. 
Wallis,  Robert,  18,   Olney,   111.,  Student;  appointed  Corpr.. 

July  i,   1898;  discharged  Nov.  3,  1898. 
Webb,  John,  20,  Olney,  111.,  Farmer. 
Weir,  Benjamin,  18,  Olney,  111.,  Printer. 
Weston,  Adam,  19,  Olney,  111.,  Farmer. 
Wharf,  Eugene,   19,  Olney,  111.,   Student;  discharged  Feb. 

15,    1899. 

Wood,  Medford,  23,  Olney,  111.,  Laborer. 
Zook,  Arthur,  18,  Olney,  111.,  Mechanic. 

RECRUITS    ENLISTED  JUNE  21,    1898. 

Balding,  Henry,  21,  Samsville,  111.,    Farmer. 

Barnard,  Stephen,  24,  Orleans,  Ind.,  Farmer. 

Christy,  Clinton,  22,  Olney,  111.,  Printer. 

Colvin,  Peter,  21,  Olney,  111.,  Printer. 

Cutter,  Harry,   18  Olney,  111.,  Painter. 

Donnells,  Gilbert,  23,    Newling,  Ind.,  Farmer;   discharged 

Nov.   27,   1898. 

Fleener,  George,  26,  Wakefield,  Farmer. 
Gharst,  John,  23,  Claremont,  Farmer;  discharged  Dec.  28, 

1898. 

Johnson,  George,  21,  Sumner,  111.,  Hostler. 
Linxwiler,  Clarence,  20,  Sumner,  111.,  Laborer. 
Loughmiller,  Bunn,  26,  Hancock,  Ind.,  Farmer. 
Mattingly.  Charles,  18,  Olney,  111.,  Farmer. 

4 


5O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

McGuire,  Cree,  22,  Carmi,  111.,   Farmer. 

Miller,  George,  29,  Wakefield,    111.,  Farmer. 

Moore,  Otis,  23,  Calhoun,  111.,  Farmer. 

O'Kean,  Charles,  37,  Olney,  111.,  Laborer. 

Patterson,  Arthur,  24,  Grayville,  111.,  bookkeeper;  appoint- 
ed corporal,  Sept.  10,  1898. 

Runyen,  Burt,  20,  Olney,  111.,  Brickmason. 

Roberts,  Frank,  24,  Sumner,  111.,  Farmer. 

Simon,  John,  24,  Claremont,  111.,  Farmer. 

Sloan,' Frank,  25,  Clay  City,  111.,  Cooper. 

Sutherland,  Clay,  18,  Sumner,  111.,  Farmer. 

Sumner,  Henry,  33,  Sumner,   111.,  Engineer. 

Williamson,  Roland,  21,  Calhoun,  111.,  Laborer. 

Wright,  Frank,  25,  Calhoun,  111.,  Laborer. 

Houser,  Rolla,  21,  Berryville,  111.,  Farmer;  enlisted  at 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  Aug.,  1898. 

Musgrove,  Virgil,  23,  Claremont,  111.,  Farmer;  enlisted  at 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  Aug.,  1898. 

All  not  otherwise  mentioned  as  discharged  were  mustered 
out  on  May  2,  1899,  at  Augusta,  Ga. 


N.   P.   PAVEY. 

Captain  N.  P.  Pavey,  whose  portrait  is  here  given,  is 
twenty-four  years  of  age.  In  1890  he  entered  the  Western 
Military  Academy,  and  in  1892  was  appointed  first  lieu- 
tenant and  adjutant,  and  graduated  from  that  institution 
as  captain  in  1894. 

He  was  specialy  recommended  to  President  Cleveland 
for  appointment  in  the  United  States  Army,  by  Capt.  Jesse 
M.  Lee,  United  States  Army  Inspector  of  Military  Acade- 
mies. 

Organized  a  company  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Illinois,  which 


52  HISTORY    OF    THE 

was  mustered  into  the  Illinois  National  Guards  as  Company 
D,  Sixth  Infantry,  and  was  elected  captain  by  acclamation, 
June  17,  1896. 

The  company  was  afterward  transfered  to  the  Fourth 
Infantry,  to  be  designated  Company  F.  In  the  relation 
he  voluntered  his  services  to  the  United  States,  and  entered 
Camp  Tanner  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  April  26,  1898,  and 
was  with  the  Fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  in  said  serv- 
ice, until  it  was  mustered  out  at  Camp  McKenzie,  Augusta^ 
Georgia,  May  2d,  1899. 

Captain  Pavey  is  the  youngest  of  three  sons  of  General 
C.  W.  Pavey,  ex-auditor  of  the  state,  and  at  present  spec- 
ial examiner,  Department  of  Justice. 


WILBUR  E.   SATTERFIELD. 

Lieut.  Wilbur  E.  Satterfield  was  born  near  Mt.  Ver- 
non,  Jefferson  county,  Illinois,  March  31,  1871.  He  com- 
pleted his  education  in  the  Mt.  Vernon  high  school.  June  i, 
1896,  he  was  mustered  into  Company  F,  Fourth  Illinois 
National  Guards,  as  a  private,  and  soon  after  was  appointed 
first  sergeant  of  the  company;  volunteered  his  services  to 
the  United  States  on  the  24th  of  April,  1898,  and  on  the 
1 7th  of  May,  of  the  same  year,  was  mustered  into  the 
United  States  volunteer  service.  In  this  capacity  he  held 
the  position  of  first  sergeant  until  March  27,  1899,  when  he 
was  appointed  second  lieutenant,  receiving  his  commission 
April  17,  of  same  year;  and  as  such  was  mustered  out  at 
Augusta,  Georgia,  with  his  company  on  the  2d  of  May,. 
1899. 


COMPANY  F. 


A  company  of  militia  had  been  talked  of  in  Mt.  Ver- 
non  for  a  year  or  more,  the  result  of  which  was  the  organ- 
ization of  a  company  that  was  sworn  into  the  military  serv- 
ice of  the  state  on  the  evening  of  June  17,  1896,  Colonel 
Washburn  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  officiating.  This  com- 
pany with  its  fifty-three  enlisted  men  was  designated  as 
Company  D,  Sixth  Regiment  Illinois  National  Guards.  An 
election  was  held  the  same  evening,  which  resulted  in  the 
election  of  N.  P.  Pavey,  captain;  T.  P.  Shanahan,  first 
lieutenant;  and  W.  H.  Woodworth,  second  lieutenant. 
Arms  and  equipment  did  not  arrive  until  about  two  weeks 
later.  It  being  such  a  short  time  till  the  annual  encamp- 
ment and  all  the  members,  with  very  few  exceptions,  being 
unacquainted  with  military  matters,  we  drilled  about  three 
hours  six  nights  in  the  week  until  July  25,  when  we  went 
into  camp  at  Springfield,  where  the  company,  though  the 
youngest  in  camp,  made  a  very  creditable  showing. 

Ttte  Sixth  Regiment  being  from  the  northern  part  of 
the  state,  the  officials  took  the  first  opportunity  to  transfer 
our  company  to  a  command  nearer  home,  which  was  done 
by  an  order  issued  from  the  adjutant-general's  office  about 
August  10,  1896,  transferring  us  to  the  Fourth  Regiment 
and  designating  the  organization  as  Company  F,  where  it 
has  since  remained. 

Lieutenant  Woodworth  resigned  in  November,  1896, 
he  being  succeeded  by  Corporal  F.  J.  Baldwin.  Lieuten- 
ant Shanahan  resigned  in  February,  1897,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Sergeant  Edwin  M.  Dufur.  Lieutenant  Bald- 


54  HISTORY    OF    THE 

win  resigned  in  June,  1897,  and  was  succeeded  by  Sergeant 
Pearl  Legge.  Lieutenant  Baldwin  was  the  last  of  our 
officers  to  resign,  there  being  no  other  change  in  the  officers 
till  March,  1899,  when  Lieutenant  Dufur  was  relieved  from 
the  service,  the  company  being  in  Cuba  at  the  time.  Lieu- 
tenant Legge  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
Lieutenant  Dufur's  leaving  the  service  and  First  Sergeant  W. 
E.  Satterfield  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
Lieutenant  Legge's  promotion. 

But,  to  return  to  a  narrative  of  the  company's  history. 
Soon  after  returning  from  camp  in  1896  it  was  decided  to 
hold  drills  once  a  week,  which  custom  was  continued  up  to 
the  time  of  entering  the  volunteer  service  in  the  Spanish- 
American  war.  Company  F  went  to  the  annual  encamp- 
ment again  on  July  21,  1897,  and  during  the  week's  tour  of 
duty  we  took  part  in  the  military  parade  at  the  dedication 
of  the  Logan  monument  in  Chicago,  July  26.  After  return- 
ing home  nothing  of  importance  occurred  until  early  in  the 
winter  when  the  Cuban  trouble  began  to  attract  attention. 
The  stirring  events  occurring  there  were,  of  course,  watched 
by  all  Americans  and  the  members  of  our  company  were 
no  exception  to  the  rule.  The  daily  papers  were  closely 
watched  and  when  it  was  announced  that  the  government 
at  Washington  had  set  a  time  when  Spain  must  have  either 
conquered  the  people  of  the  Island  or  withdraw,  the  war 
began  to  grow  still  more  interesting.  It  was  only  a  short 
time  till  the  members  of  our  company  began  to  talk  of 
"going  to  Cuba"  and  some  of 'the  more  visionary  ones 
doubtless  saw  themselves  winning  fame  and  glory  upon 
many  hotly  contested  battle-fields  in  the  Queen  of  the 
Antilles.  The  day-dreamers,  however,  were  aroused  from 
their  lethargy  on  February  16,  1898,  when  the  news  of  the 
awful  work  in  Havana  Harbor,  the  night  before,  cast  a 
gloom  over  our  country.  Then  it  was  that  the  boys  began 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  5Jy 

to  realize  that  our  "going  to  Cuba  "  would  probably  be  a 
reality  within  the  next  few  months.  On  April  23,  1898, 
our  company  was  asked  whether  it  would  tender  its  serv- 
ices to  the  national  government  in  the  coming  war.  A 
meeting  was  held  the  next  afternoon.  Although  it  was 
Sunday  the  hall  was  crowded  with  patriotic  citizens  who 
were  anxious  to  be  present  upon  the  occasion  which  was  of 
so  much  importance  to  the  members  of  our  company.  The 
roll  was  called  with  the  request  that  those  who  would  en- 
list should  answer  to  their  names  and  step  forward.  It  was 
only  a  matter  of  a  few  moments  when  every  one  in  the 
ranks  had  signified  their  willingness  to  serve  their  country 
in  time  of  need.  This  action  was  approved  by  a  hearty 
cheer  from  the  spectators.  There  were  five  or  six  mem- 
bers of  the  company,  however,  who,  for  various  reasons, 
did  not  make  their  appearance  at  the  meeting  that  after- 
noon and,  of  course,  did  not  enlist. 

Late  on  the  night  of  April  25,  1898,  orders  were  re- 
ceived directing  Company  F  to  report  at  Springfield,  so  the 
boys  knew  what  it  meant  when  they  heard  "assembly" 
sounding  at  the  armory  the  next  morning.  As  each  man 
reported  he  was  directed  to  return  home  and  don  his  uniform 
at  once,  as  it  was  thought  that  we  could  get  away  that 
afternoon.  Transportation  was  not  arranged,  though, 
till  the  next  morning.  Assembling  at  the  armory  at  6 
o'clock  the  morning  of  the  27th,  we  marched  to  the  station 
headed  by  the  Mt.  Vernon  Military  Band  and  followed  by 
nearly  the  entire  population  of  our  city.  The  events  of 
the  next  few  moments  will  be  long  remembered  by  hundreds 
of  eye-witnesses  and  participants.  Some  knew  what  war 
meant — others  did  not;  the  knowledge  of  some  along  these 
lines  had  been  acquired  by  actual  experience — that  of 
others  had  been  learned  at  father's  knee  or  gleaned  from 
school-books.  But  regardless  of  all  this,  war,  with  all  its 


56  HISTORY    OF    THE 

horrors,  appeared  more  real  to  many  of  our  friends  and 
relatives  that  morning  than  it  had  ever  seemed  before. 
With  the  God-speeds  of  friends  and  the  tears  of  those 
nearer,  our  train  started  at  6:20  A.  M.  for  Springfield — a 
date  long  to  be  remembered. 

Nothing  of  importance  occurred  until  Litchfield  was 
reached,  where  Company  K  joined  us.  We  arrived  at 
Springfield  about  1 1  A.  M.  and  in  the  course  of  half  an 
hour  the  cars  had  been  switched  into  the  state  fair  grounds, 
where  we  unloaded  and  were  soon  among  the  multitude  of 
patriotic  sons  of  Illinois  who  had  preceded  us.  Company 
F  was  quartered  in  the  Polled  Angus  stock  barn,  together 
with  Companies  B  and  C,  which  were  already  comfortably 
located,  the  former  being  up-stairs  and  the  other  two  on 
the  ground  floor.  Our  company,  on  arrival  at  Springfield, 
contained  sixty-six  enlisted  men.  Within  a  week  or  two 
Captain  Pavey  returned  to  Mt.  Vernon,  where  he  enlisted 
eight  more  men,  who  joined  the  company  about  May  11. 
This  date,  however,  was  preceded  by  an  occurrence  that 
will  long  be  remembered  by  many  of  the  boys.  We  were 
soundly  sleeping  a  few  nights  previous,  when,  upon  being 
aroused,  it  seemed  that  all  the  noise  and  noise-making 
apparatus  had  been  turned  loose  in  Camp  Tanner.  After 
rubbing  our  eyes  for  a  few  moments  and  wondering  what  it 
all  meant,  some  one  was  heard  to  say  that  Dewey  had 
completely  annihilated  the  Spanish  fleet  at  Manila.  The 
celebration  was  kept  up  for  some  time,  when  the  noise 
finally  ceased,  and  quiet  reigned  supreme  once  more.  Of 
the  seventy-four  enlisted  men  reporting  for  examination  in 
Company  F,  ten  were  rejected.  It  was  a  sore  disappoint- 
ment to  some  of  them.  After  the  examination  several  men 
<:ame  into  the  company  from  various  sources.  Two  were 
received  from  the  Second  Regiment,  two  from  the  Seventh, 
four  from  Company  C,  of  the  Fourth,  and  two  enlisted 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  57 

with  the  company  at  Camp  Tanner.  The  day  we  were 
mustered  into  the  national  service  a  member  of  the  hospital 
corps  was  sent  to  be  sworn  in  with  our  company.  Pre- 
viously having  the  required  number,  this  made  one  too 
many,  so  it  became  necessary  to  drop  out  one  of  our  own 
members.  This  was  remedied  by  one  of  the  boys  volun- 
tarily offering  to  return  home.  Company  F  was  then,  on 
the  afternoon  of  May  19,  1898,  sworn  into  the  national 
service.  The  members  of  the  company  returned  to  their 
quarters  declaring  that  their  days  of  "tin  soldiering"  had 
passed.  Early  in  the  evening  of  May  25  our  regiment 
received  orders  to  proceed  to  Tampa.  Part  of  the  night 
was  spent  in  writing  to  the  folks  at  home,  while  another 
part  was  devoted  to  an  entirely  different  occupation.  Many 
of  the  boys,  believing  that  all  is  fair  in  love  and  war,  and 
knowing  the  regard  the  average  American  has  for  relics  of 
war,  began,  after  the  lights  were  out,  looking  for  such 
blouses  as  were  yet  adorned  with  buttons  in  order  that  he 
might  become  possessed  thereof.  The  next  morning  some 
of  the  buttons  were  gone  from  nearly  all  of  the  blouses  and 
all  from  some  of  them. 

We  were  up  early  the  morning  of  May  26,  and  by  5  :oo 
o'clock  were  ready  to  board  the  cars.  It  was  a  weary  wait, 
however,  as  Company  F.  consisting  of  eighty-three  enlisted 
men,  did  not  go  aboard  until  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
Company  F  together  with  the  remainder  of  the  First  Bat- 
talion was  on  the  last  section  of  the  special,  until  East  St. 
Louis  was  reached,  when  we  took  the  lead  the  rest  of  the  way. 
Belleville  was  reached  about  1 1  :oo  P.  M.,  where  several  of 
the  home  folks  were  patiently  awaiting  our  arrival.  This 
city  being  the  home  of  Colonel  Andel,  it  had  been  the  inten- 
tion to  have  a  parade  there,  but  owing  to  the  lateness  of  the 
hour  this  was  dispensed  with,  and  after  stopping  an  hour, 
we  again  resumed  our  journey.  It  was  cheering  indeed  to 


58  HISTORY    OF    THE 

see  the  many  ways  devised  by  the  people  in  the  little  towns 
through  which  we  passed,  in  order  to  give  vent  to  their 
patriotic  enthusiasm.  The  arrival  of  the  train  was  an- 
nounced by  the  blowing  of  whistles  and  tremenduous  cheer- 
ing. 

While  in  Cairo,  Illinois,  the  writer  was  sitting  by  a 
comrade  whose  travels,  up  to  this  time,  had  probably  not 
been  very  extensive.  This  young  man  was  intently  gazing 
upon  the  placid  Mississippi  when,  upon  turning  around,  he 
said,  "I  wouldn't  take  two  hundred  dollars  for  what  I've 
seen  already."  At  Jackson,  Tennessee,  we  were  entertained 
by  some  Jacksonian  youths  who  greeted  us  by  saying:  "Us 
Southern  people  don't  like  you  •  Nawthen  '  people."  This 
indeed  seemed  rather  strange  and  some  of  the  boys  began 
thinking  we  had  got  in  the  wrong  pew  by  coming  south. 
Happy  to  say  all  such  thoughts  as  these  were  dispelled  long 
before  we  reached  Jacksonville. 

But,  before  leaving  Tennessee,  the  writer  desires  to 
relate  a  little  incident  that  happened  while  a  passenger 
train  was  passing  ours  which  was  on  a  switch.  A  passenger 
in  one  of  the  coaches  yelled  out  as  he  went  by:  "  Where 
you  from?"  when  one  of  our  boys  replied:  "We're  from  Mt. 
Vernon,"  not  stopping  to  think  that  possibly  the  questioner 
had  never  heard  of  Mt.  Vernon  and  maybe  did  not  know 
what  state  it  is  in. 

The  people  of  Albany,  Georgia,  will  always  hold  a 
warm  place  in  the  memory  of  many  soldiers  for  their  kind 
treatment.  Upon  arriving  there  we  found  an  abundant 
supply  of  refreshments  awaiting  us,  consisting  of  sand- 
wiches, cake,  cream  puffs,  light  rolls,  lemonade,  Georgia 
biscuits,  cigars,  cigarettes  and  tobacco. 

Jacksonville  was  reached  at  3:00  A.  M.,  May  29,  after 
being  on  the  road  about  sixty  hours.  The  camp  was  located 
in  a  section  of  Jacksonville  known  as  Springfield,  and  until 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  59 

the  formal  name  of  "Cuba  Libre"  was  adopted  it  was 
known  as  Camp  Springfield.  The  boys  doubtless  remember 
the  many  stories  that  were  soon  put  into  circulation  regard- 
ing the  camp  and  its  location.  One  report  had  it  that  the 
camp  was  located  in  a  cemetery  where  two  thousand  five 
hundred  yellow  fever  victims  had  been  buried,  and  that  it 
was  positively  against  the  law  to  dig  into  the  earth  at  all, 
for  fear  of  stirring  up  fever  germs.  Many  of  the  new  arriv- 
als believed  these  stories  at  first,  and  it  was  quite  a  while 
before  they  ventured  to  dig  small  trenches  around  their 
tents  in  order  to  carry  off  the  rain. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  story  tellers,  camp  life  at 
times  would  have  been  monotonous  in  the  extreme.  There 
was  one  story  that  went  the  rounds  at  old  Camp  Springfield 
which  the  writer  believes  will  bear  repeating  here.  This  is 
the  story:  All  persons  having  knowledge  of  military  mat- 
ters and  regulations  remember  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
guard  stationed  at  the  guard  house  to  call,  "  Turn  out  the 
guard  "  and  at  the  same  time  announcing  the  rank  of  the 
officer,  when  one  entitled  to  the  compliment  is  seen  approach- 
ing guard  headquarters.  One  day  a  New  Jersey  boy  who 
was  walking  his  post  in  a  military  manner  at  the  guard  house 
saw  the  brigadier-general  coming.  Being  a  stranger  to  mili- 
tary matters  and  becoming  somewhat  confused,  he  gave  vent 
to  the  following  expression:  "  Here  comes  the  head  guy! 
Turn  out  the  push!" 

About  three  weeks  after  arriving  at  Jacksonville,  the 
companies  in  the  volunteer  army  were  increased  to  one  hun- 
dred and  three  enlisted  men.  Sergt.  C.  U.  Stull  was 
selected  as  the  recruiting  officer  for  Company  F.  He 
seturned  home  and  in  the  course  of  three  days  had  suc- 
ceeded in  enlisting  twenty  men,  all  of  which,  with  the 
exception  of  two,  volunteered  from  Mt.  Vernon,  there 
being  eighteen  from  our  city  and  two  from  Belleville. 


6O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Camp  Springfield  was  occupied  until  about  August  10, 
when  the  regiment  removed  to  a  new  camp  at  Panama 
Park.  This,  indeed,  proved  a  bad  move  for  the  regiment, 
for  within  two  weeks  typhoid  fever  began  to  claim  its  vic- 
tims and  by  the  end  of  the  first  week  of  September  not  half 
of  the  command  was  fit  for  duty.  This  was  a  sad  time  for 
the  Fourth  Illinois,  as  well  as  for  the  other  regiments  lo- 
cated at  Panama  Park.  Then,  too,  many  a  home  in  the 
North  land  was  overshadowed  by  gloom  upon  the  receipt  of 
intelligence  that  death  had  claimed  a  loved  one.  Although 
Company  F  had  many  in  the  hospital  at  this  time,  it  was 
hoped  that  the  company  would  emerge  from  the  dark  pe- 
riod with  no  vacant  places  but  this  was  not  to  be.  At  7:15 
P.  M.,  Wednesday,  September  14,  1898,  occurred  the  death 
of  our  beloved  comrade,  Private  John  Bert  Reid. 

Another  soul  had  wended  its  way 

To  the  realms  of  joy  above 
Where  all  are  free  from  sorrow  and  pain, 

And  dwell  in  peace  and  love. 

The  next  evening  the  members  of  our  company,  heart- 
broken and  sad,  followed  the  remains  to  the  terminal  station 
in  Jacksonville;  a  salute  was  fired,  taps  were  sounded  and 
a  hero  had  gone  from  our  ranks. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  predict  what  the  final  result 
would  have  been  had  the  regiment  remained  in  the  fever 
stricken  camp,  but  incompliance  with  an  order  issued  about 
September  22,  the  entire  regiment  removed  into  the  city  of 
Jacksonville,  where  it  did  provost  duty  during  the  remainder 
of  our  stay  there. 

Companies  M,  F  and  K  were  stationed  at  provost  sta- 
tion No.  4,  which  was  located  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city, 
not  far  from  Fairfield.  Company  M  left  this  station  some- 
time later  and  Company  K  also  left  us  about  two  weeks  be- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  6 1 

fore  we  went  to  Savannah.  The  troops  at  provost  station 
No.  4  had  charge  of  the  street  car  line,  a  saloon  in  the 
neighborhood  and  some  stands  near  the  camps  in  Fairfield. 
On  October  23,  Company  F,  together  with  three  other 
companies  of  the  regiment,  received  orders  to  proceed  to 
Savannah  and  in  pursuance  to  such  orders,  began  packing 
our  belongings  and  making  preparations  to  leave  for  our 
new  location.  After  the  tents  were  down  and  packed,  the 
information  was  received  that  it  had  been  decided  not  to 
send  us  till  the  next  day,  so  we  marched  down  to  provost 
headquarters  to  spend  the  night.  Several  of  those  who  had 
a  sufficient  quantity  of  the  coin  of  the  realm  contributed 
part  of  it  in  payment  for  a  bed  for  the  night.  With  many 
of  them,  this  was  the  first  time  they  had  slept  in  a  bed 
since  leaving  home.  The  boys  spent  October  24  in  seeing 
the  sights  of  Jacksonville  for  the  last  time.  Company  F 
left  provost  headquarters  at  9  o'clock  that  night  and 
marched  to  the  terminal  station,  where,  after  waiting  about 
two  hours,  we  were  loaded  into  two  very  poor  cars.  The 
cars  were  equipped  with  short  slat  seats  and  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  windows  had  been  broken  out,  so  that  the 
prospect  for  a  pleasant  trip  to  Savannah  seemed  rather  out 
of  the  question.  Major  Bennett,  who  was  acting  provost 
marshal  at  the  time,  however,  informed  the  railroad  offi- 
cials that  he  would  not  allow  men  under  his  command  to 
ride  in  such  cars,  while  Dr.  Galbraith  informed  them  that 
they  would  be  responsible  for  the  health  of  the  men  who 
rode  in  such  cars.  The  objection  made  by  our  two  officers 
proving  successful,  we  were  soon  comfortably  situated  in 
two  nice  coaches.  The  train  pulled  out  of  Jacksonville  at 
12:30  A.  M.,  October  15,  arriving  at  Savannah  about  9:15 
A.  M.,  covering  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
eight  miles  in  about  nine  hours.  The  trip  was  without  in- 
cident. 


62  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Company  F  occupied  provost  station  No.  4,  which  was 
afterward  changed  to  No.  5.  The  camp  was  on  Bull  street 
just  south  of  Extension  Park.  Savannah,  without  doubt, 
has  some  of  the  kindest  people  on  earth  within  its  limits. 
We  were  very  tired  and  hungry  on  arriving  at  our  new 
camp  and  not  having  the  cooking  apparatus  in  good  working 
order  the  prospects  for  supper  were  rather  gloomy.  Imag- 
ine our  surprise  and  joy  when  a  servant  of  a  lady  living  near 
by  was  seen  approaching  us  with  an  abundant  supply  of 
sandwiches  and  butter.  Pretty  soon  another  lady  sent  over 
a  big  boiler  of  coffee  with  cream  and  sugar,  so  that  we  did 
not  fare  so  badly  after  all. 

Our  boys  will  always  recall  with  pleasure  the  events 
of  Thanksgiving  day,  November  24.  In  the  afternoon  six 
large  tables  were  constructed  and  placed  in  our  company 
street.  This  work  had  scarcely  been  completed  when  our 
neighbors  began  to  arrive  with  such  articles  as  would  tickle 
the  palate  of  an  epicure.  The  ungainly  appearance  of  the 
rough  pine  tables  was  soon  lost  in  their  covering  of  snow 
white  linen,  while  the  decorations  of  pink  and  white  crysan- 
themums  completed  a  picture  which  only  an  artist  could 
paint.  The  arrangement  of  the  tables  was  completed  about 
4  o'clock,  when  the  company  fell  in  and  marched  to  the 
rear  of  the  tables  where  we  halted  long  enough  for  several 
camera  owners  to  photograph  the  scene.  The  two  ranks 
of  the  company  then  separated  and  marched  down  either 
side  of  the  tables  until  each  man  came  opposite  a  plate, 
when  the  command  "Seats"  was  given.  Under  each  • 
plate  was  found  a  daintily  folded  napkin  and  a  beautiful 
button-hole  boquet. 

When  seated  the  boys  laid  aside  the  little  rules  they 
had  learned  at  mother's  table  in  years  gone  by,  and  pro- 
ceeded in  the  most  comfortable  way  to  supply  the  wants  of 
the  inner  man.  That  this  was  done  to  the  entire  satisfac- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  63 

tion  of  all  concerned  goes  without  saying.  After  all  had 
finished  a  speech  was  called  for,  and  Private  Combs  respond- 
ed in  a  few  well  chosen  words,  in  which  he  thanked  the 
people  of  the  vicinity  for  their  hospitality.  When  the 
tables  were  cleared  and  the  dishes  washed,  it  was  discov- 
ered that  we  had  left  twenty  pies,  four  turkeys,  ten  pounds 
of  celery,  six  pounds  of  butter  and  two  gallons  of  potato 
salad,  which  were  disposed  of  for  dinner  the  next  day. 

For  several  days  there  had  been  talk  of  our  regiment 
being  removed  from  provost  duty,  as  we  had  then  been 
policemen  for  more  than  two  months.  Our  boys  had  hoped 
that  this  talk  would  prove  unfounded,  for  we  were  located 
in  a  most  excellent  community  and  had  made  many  friends 
there.  As  a  result  of  this  it  was  with  no  little  regret  that, 
on  November  29,  Company  F  left  its  pleasant  surround- 
ings and  went  into  regimental  camp.  Company  H,  Third 
Nebraska,  relieved  us.  Only  a  little  more  than  four  weeks 
had  been  spent  in  regimental  camp  when,  on  Sunday,  Jan- 
uary i,  the  Fourth  Illinois  received  orders  to  proceed  to 
Cuba.  The  Ninth  Illinois  received  orders  at  the  same  time 
and  both  regiments  went  on  the  transport  Mobile.  We 
began  packing  early  Monday  morning  and  the  wagons  com- 
menced hauling  our  baggage  to  the  wharf,  at  noon.  The 
Ninth  went  on  board  the  vessel  Monday  evening  while  we 
remained  in  camp.  Having  all  our  bedding  packed  and  it 
being  rather  cool,  not  many  of  us  slept  much.  We  were, 
of  course,  up  early  the  next  morning  and  after  disposing  of 
a  rather  limited  breakfast  and  cleaning  up  the  quarters,  we 
fell  in  and  marched  to  the  wharf.  The  assignment  of  quar- 
ters was  a  rather  slow  task  and  it  was  not  until  10:25  A.  M. 
when  Company  F  marched  on  board,  where  we  soon  re- 
lieved ourselves  of  our  load  and  went  above  to  get  a  part- 
ing look  at  the  wharves  of  Savannah  and  bid  good-bye  to 
the  many  friends  who  had  come  to  see  the  start.  Our  quar- 


64  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ters,  by  the  way,  were  on  the  third  deck,  so  that  it  was 
necessary  to  go  down  three  flights  of  stairs  to  get  to  them. 
At  1 1 : 1 5  A.  M.  Tuesday,  January  3,  the  Mobile  was  loosed 
from  her  moorings  and  amid  the  cheers  of  the  hundreds  of 
people  who  were  on  the  different  wharves  along  the  river 
the  twenty-five  hundred  men  on  board  began  the  journey 
to  Cuba. 

A  short  distance  down  the  river  we  passed  the  Rou- 
mania,  with  the  Second  South  Carolina  on  board,  and  which 
followed  a  few  minutes  later.  About  half  way  down  the 
river  our  tug  released  its  ropes  and  bade  us  good-bye.  The 
Roumania  kept  in  sight  until  we  got  out  to  sea  a  short  dis- 
tance, when  she  disappeared  behind  us.  By  2  o'clock  we, 
for  the  first  time  in  our  lives,  were  out  of  sight  of  land  and 
also  out  beyond  the  boundaries  of  the  United  States.  A 
little  later  many  of  the  boys  began  showing  the  effects  of 
their  first  voyage  at  sea.  Along  the  railing  on  either  side 
of  the  upper  deck  there  was  a  solid  row  of  the  boys  intently 
engaged  in  "feeding  the  fish."  To  those  who  were  not 
similarly  affected  it  seemed  rather  laughable,  and  disregard- 
ing the  seriousness  of  the  affair  we  well  ones  comforted  the 
unlucky  boys  as  best  we  could  by  giving  vent  to  such  ex- 
pressions as  "Fall  in  to  vomit,"  "Feed  the  fish,"  or  upon 
seeing  some  one  approach  the  railing  some  one  would 
shout,  "You're  next."  The  ocean  Tuesday  afternoon  was 
smooth,  but  that  night  the  wind  increased  and  the  rolling 
sea  caused  the  troubles  of  many  on  board  to  grow. 

The  next  morning  the  upper  deck  was  crowded  with 
those  who  were  anxious  to  see  the  first  rays  of  sunlight 
break  over  the  deep.  The  light  on  St.  Anastasia  island, 
St.  Augustine,  was  sighted  about  7  o'clock,  but  no  land 
was  visible.  Soon  after  noon  the  coast  of  Florida  came  in 
sight  and  several  land  marks  were  passed,  among  which 
were  Palm  Beach,  one  of  Florida's  winter  resorts,  a 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  65 

wrecked  schooner  and  a  lighthouse.  The  lights  of  Miami 
came  into  view  about  10  P.  M.  That  was  the  last  sign  of 
life  we  saw  in  the  United  States. 

Members  of  the  crew  had  informed  us  that  we  would 
reach  Havana  about  noon  Thursday,  and  as  a  result  the 
deck  was  crowded  early  in  the  day  with  those  who  were 
anxious  to  get  a  first  glimpse  of  the  Cuban  coast.  About 
11:30  land  was  sighted  several  miles  east  of  Havana,  and 
soon  we  were  close  enough  to  get  a  good  view  of  the  coun- 
try near  the  ocean.  Gloomy  Morro  appeared  about  1:30  P. 
M. ,  and  soon  the  blowing  of  whistles  and  the  shouting  of 
people  along  the  wharves  announced  our  entrance  into  far- 
famed  Havana  harbor.  Probably  the  first  and  most  grati- 
fying sight  to  all  of  us  on  entering  the  harbor  was  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  floating  over  Morro  and  over  the  buildings  ot 
the  city. 

The  Mobile  tied  up  at  2  P.  M.,  Thursday,  January  5-,.. 
after  a  voyage  of  about  fifty  hours.  We  remained  OIL 
board  that  night,  going  ashore  the  next  morning  and  leav-> 
ing  for  our  new  camp  in  the  afternoon.  Thursday  night: 
we  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  searchlights  of  our  war 
vessels  as  they  swept  the  harbor.  After  going  ashore  we 
were  not  allowed  to  go  beyond  the  limits  of  the  sheds;  but 
even  within  these  narrow  limits  the  new  arrivals  saw  many- 
things  that  were  new  to  them,  among  which  was  a  Spanish 
orderly  who  had  been  sent  to  accompany  an  American  offi- 
cer to  the  wharf.  This  being  our  first  sight  of  a  Spanish 
soldier,  some  of  our  readers  can  imagine  how  we  gathered 
around  him  to  get  a  good  look  at  one  of  the  servants  of  the 
boy  king  of  Spain.  Then  the  odd-looking  drays  of  Ha-r 
vana  began  making  their  appearance  on  the  driveway. 
Soon  after  our  small  dinner  of  hard  tack,  corned  beef, 
baked  beans  and  black  coffee  had  been  consumed,  the 
smokers  began  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  Cuban  cigars 

5 


66  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  cigarettes.  On  account  of  the  low  prices  of  cigars,  it 
was  no  trouble  for  the  boys  to  obtain  genuine  "Havana 
fillers." 

In  passing  through  the  business  streets  to  our  new 
camp,  we  were  enthusiastically  cheered  by  the  business 
men  and  pedestrians.  Cuban  flags  and  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
were  to  be  seen  everywhere,  and-  in  passing  the  English 
"consul's  residence  the  old  gentleman  was  seen  diligently 
waving  a  British  flag  and  an  American  banner.  After  one 
of  the  hottest  marches  we  had  enjoyed  since  leaving  home, 
our  new  camp  was  reached.  The  location,,  like  all  others, 
was  an  ideal  one,  and  it  was  only  a  few  days  until  we  were 
again  settled  down  to  the  ordinary  routine  of  camp  life. 

On  February  19  our  brigade,  as  well  as  most  other 
brigades  of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  started  on  a  nine 
days'  march  to  Guines,  a  town  of  probably  ten  thousand 
population,  located  about  thirty  miles  southeast  of  Havana. 
On  account  of  want  of  space  the  writer  will  not  attempt  to 
describe  this  trip,  but  suffice  it  to  say  it  will  long  be  remem- 
bered by  those  who  took  part  in  it. 

About  the  middle  of  March  the  regiments  of  the 
Seventh  Army  Corps  began  receiving  orders  to  return  to 
the  United  States  to  be  mustered  out.  The  receipt  of  such 
orders  was  always  the  signal  for  wild  demonstrations.  Our 
yelling  time  came  Monday,  April  3,  but  as  circumstances 
alter  cases,  the  boys  of  our  regiment  were  not  given  the 
opportunity  to  join  in  a  grand  chorus  of  cheers  such  as  some 
of  the  other  regiments  had  done  in  the  past.  Orders  came 
Monday  afternoon  and  the  companies  were  lined  up  in  their 
respective  streets  at  different  times  to  listen  to  the  reading 
of  the  good  news.  Those  who  had  been  anticipating  a 
trip  to  Montauk  Point  or  Camp  Meade,  Pennsylvania,  were 
somewhat  disappointed,  but  nevertheless  all  were  glad  to 
know  that  our  service  in  Cuba  would  soon  be  at  an  end  and 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  6/ 

knowing  the  rainy  season  would  not  find  us  on  the  island. 
Tuesday  morning  the  boys  were  lined  up,  and  after  dispos- 
ing of  a  hastily  prepared  breakfast,  they  finished  packing 
their  belongings  and  took  the  tents  down.  The  wagons 
drove  in,  the  baggage  was  loaded,  and  it  was  soon  on  its 
way  to  the  wharf. 

We,  the  First  Battalion,  band  and  headquarters,  left 
the  old  camp  at  9:15.  While  not  regretting  having  to 
leave  for  the  states,  every  member  of  the  regiment  will 
doubtless  have  pleasant  memories  of  this  camp,  for,  besides 
being  camped  there  longer  than  at  any  previous  camp,  the 
health  of  the  men  was  better  than  at  any  other  camp. 

The  march  to  the  wharf  was  a  very  dusty  one,  but  the 
thoughts  of  coming  events  probably  kept  the  men  from 
complaining.  The  wharf  was  reached  about  noon,  and 
after  waiting  for  the  baggage  to  be  loaded  we  went  aboard 
two  government  tugs  and  were  taken  out  to  the  Plant  line 
steamer  Whitney.  At  6  o'clock  the  mouth  of  the  harbor 
was  left  behind,  and  we  got  our  last  glimpse  of  the  rugged 
walls  of  Morro.  The  vessel  not  being  fitted  for  regular 
transport  service,  there  were  no  berths  except  the  state- 
rooms, and  of  course  these  were  not  for  common  soldiers, 
so  the  boys  scattered  over  the  decks  and  available  places, 
reminding  one  of  the  steerage  apartment  of  an  emigrant 
steamer.  The  lights  of  Key  West  were  sighted  at  5  o'clock 
Wednesday  morning.  A  short  time  before  noon  we  struck 
a  rough  sea  and  several  cases  of  sea-sickness  followed. 
That  night,  however,  was  the  roughest  time  we  experienced 
on  the  water.  The  wind  almost  blew  a  gale,  whictj  made 
it  quite  laughable  to  see  some  of  the  uninitiated  sons  of  Illi- 
nois try  to  walk  the  deck  and  keep  their  feet.  In  attempt- 
ing to  do  so  one  would  give  a  short  exhibition  of  a  cake 
walk,  closely  followed  by  figures  unknown  to  any  dancing 
professor,  ancient  or  modern.  At  6:45  A.  M.  Thursday,  the 


'68 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Whitney  anchored  off  the  quarantine  station  on  Egmont 
Island,  twenty-five  miles  southwest  of  Tampa,  and  in  the 
afternoon,  by  means  of  lighters  and  tugs,  succeeded  in 
getting  ashore. 

After  arriving  on  the  wharf  the  companies  were  lined 
up  and  marched  past  one  of  the  fumigating  plants,  where 
we  were  relieved  of  our  blanket  bag  and  blanket  roll,  being 
allowed  to  take  no  equipment  to  the  camp  except  gun, 
belt,  bayonet,  canteen  and  haversack.  Egmont  is  one  of 
the  group  of  islands  at  the  mouth  of  Tampa  bay.  It  is- 
composed  of  sand,  is  half  a  mile  wide  and  two  miles  long. 
Besides  the  quarantine  station,  a  lighthouse  is  also  located1 
here. 

After  three  days  of  very  close  confinement  in  quaran- 
tine, the  First  and  Second  Battalions  of  our  regiment  left 
Egmont  Key  Monday  morning,  April  10,  aboard  the  Plant 
line  steamboat  Margaret,  for  Tampa,  where  we  landed 
about  2  o'clock.  About  3  o'clock  the  first  section  of  our 
train  left  Port  Tampa  over  the  Plant  system.  The  night 
passed  without  incident  and  we  were  rejoicing  over  the  fact 
that  Savannah  would  soon  be  reached,  thus  ending  a  very 
tiresome  journey.  Then  many  of  the  boys,  especially 
those  who  had  a  best  girl  awaiting  them,  had  commenced 
to  prepare  for  the  pleasant  meeting,  when,  at  a  junction 
three  miles  from  the  city,  hope  and  happy  anticipation- 
were  shattered  when  the  news  came  that  we  were  not  going 
to  Savannah  at  all;  instead,  Augusta  was  to  be  our  destina- 
tion. The  boys,  like  true  soldiers,  soon  forget  these 
troubles  and  were  making  the  best  of  it.  At  Yamassee, 
South  Carolina,  our  train  was  switched  from  the  Plant 
system  to  the  Charleston  &  West  Carolina,  over  which  we 
entered  Augusta  at  1:25  in  the  afternoon,  making  the 
journey  of  five  hundred  and  forty-seven  miles  from  Port 
Tampa  in  about  twenty-two  hours. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  69 

The  members  of  Company  F  were  given  the  physical 
examination  April  17,  which  all  troops  were  required  to 
pass  before  being  mustered  out.  Our  arms  were  turned  in 
at  the  arsenal  at  Augusta  on  the  morning  of  April  27,  just 
one  year  after  leaving  home  for  the  war. 

On  Tuesday  morning  May  2,  1899,  with  the  rest  of 
the  Fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  Company  F  passed 
into  history.  The  regiment  was  mustered  out  by  noon. 
Company  F  being  on  the  first  section  of  the  special  train, 
left  Augusta  about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  A  short 
distance  out  of  Augusta  it  was  learned  that  a  wreck  had 
occurred  near  Atlanta  which  necessitated  our  going  by  way 
of  Smithville,  Georgia.  This  made  our  train  late  and  we 
did  not  arrive  in  Atlanta  until  six  o'clock  the  next  morning. 
After  an  hour's  stay  in  Atlanta  the  train  started  for  Chat- 
tanooga, where  it  arrived  at  11:00  A.  M.  To  this  city, 
however,  our  route  led  through  Dalton,  and  Marietta, 
Georgia,  two  places  made  historic  by  General  Sherman's 
army  while  on  its  march  to  the  sea.  Near  Chattanooga  we 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Lookout  Mountain  and  Mission- 
ary Ridge.  Chattanooga  was  left  behind  about  noon  and 
Nashville  was  reached  a  few  minutes  after  six  o'clock.  At 
7:35  we  left  Nashville.  Company  F  arrived  at  home  at 
9:30  on  the  morning  of  May  4,  1899,  after  having  been 
away  just  a  year  and  a  week.  The  approach  of  our  train 
was  announced  by  the  firing  of  a  cannon  which  was  located 
in  the  yards  of  the  Mt.  Vernon  Car  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. The  Mt.  Vernon  Military  Band  and  hundreds  of  our 
friends  and  relatives  had  gathered  at  the  station  to  welcome 
us  home  again.  The  company,  or  those  of  us  who  had  not 
been  hurried  off  home  by  our  over-joyed  relatives,  fell  in 
and,  headed  by  the  band  and  followed  by  the  High  School 
Cadets  and  Coleman  Post  G.  A.  R.,  marched  to  the  public 
square  where,  after  a  few  short  addresses,  the  company  was 


7O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

disbanded.  The  next  evening  a  sumptuous  banquet  was 
tendered  the  company  by  our  citizens  in  the  rooms  of  the 
Mt.  Vernon  Collegiate  Institute,  which  rooms,  by  the  way, 
had  formerly  been  our  armory  and  it  was  also  in  these 
rooms  we  had  volunteered  for  the  war  a  little  more  than  a 
year  before.  After  the  banquet,  the  company  adjourned 
to  the  Opera  House,  where  a  public  reception  was  tendered 
us.  Hon.  C.  H.  Patton  delivered  an  address  of  welcome, 
which  was  responded  to  in  behalf  of  the  company  by  Capt. 
N.  P.  Pavey,  he  being  followed  in  a  few  words  by  Arthur 
T.  French,  who  gave  a  short  sketch  of  the  company's  trav- 
els. So  ends  our  story. 

ARTHUR  T.   FRENCH. 


ROSTER,   COMPANY  F. 

PAVEY,  NEIL  P.,  Captain,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
DUFUR,  EDMUND  M.,  First  Lieutenant,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
LEGGE,  PEARL,  Second  Lieutenant,  Mt.  Vernon,   111. ;  pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  vice  Dufur  dismissed. 

SERGEANTS. 

Satterfield,  William,  First  Sergeant,  Mt.  Vernon,  111.;  pro- 
moted to  Second  Lieutenant,  vice  Legge  promoted. 
Patton,  Otto  C.,  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  Mt.  Vernon,  111- 
Rice,  James,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
McCurdy,  Charles,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Stull,  Charles  U.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

CORPORALS. 

Gibson,  Edgar,  Mt.  Vernon,  111.;  promoted  to  Serg't. 
Hinman,  Earl,  Mt.  Vernon,  111.;  promoted  to  Serg't. 
Stearns,  Will  E.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. ;  reduced  to  ranks. 


72  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Brandon,  Henry  J.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Pasley,  Ghan,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Lorton,  Ernest  A.,  106  East  Second  street,  Alton,  111. 
Brooks,  Charles,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Cotton,  Sam  C. ,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Stanley,  David,  Chicago,  111. ;  reduced  to  ranks. 
Sergeant,  William  H.,  Chicago,  111.;  reduced  to  ranks. 
Bayless,  Cromwell,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Dunley,  T.  S. ,  Marlow,  111. 

Cooper,  Thomas,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. ;  reduced  at  ranks  at  his 
own  request. 

MUSICIANS. 

Wolf,  Alfred  B.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111, 

Swift,  Alva,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Polk,  Albert  H.,  Artificer,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Hunter,  Edward,  Wagoner,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

PRIVATES. 

Anderson,  William  H.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Atkinson,  John  V.,  McLeansboro,  111. 

Boswell,  Fred  F. ,  Mt.  Vernon,  111.;  promoted  to  Corp. 

Benton,  Henry  M.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Bishop,  Jesse,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Bowling,  Jacob  M.,  Carbondale,  111. 

Cooper,  Richard  L. ,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Combs,  Earnest  E.,  Mulberry  Grove,  111. 

Craig,  Robert,  Kinmundy,  111. 

Craig,  Charles  W. ,  Kinmundy,  111. 

Cox,  Samuel  W.,  Spring  Garden,  111. 

Dimmick,  Pearl,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Dewey,  Edgar  A.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Daulton,  Alonzo,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Easley,  Oscar,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. ;  promoted  to  Corp. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  73 

Ellis,  Lawrence,  Wayne  City,  111. 

Estes,  Charles  L.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Ellington,  Charles,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

French,  Arthur  T.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Goodrich,  Frank,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. ;  promoted  to  Corp. 

Gilbert,  W.  Gus,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. ;  promoted  to  Corp. 

Harris,  William  T. ,  Fitzgerald,  111. 

Heiserman,  Frank  R.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Herman,  Fred  W.,  Jr.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111.;  Company  Tailor. 

Holland,  James  M.,  Dahlgreen,  111. 

Hastings,  Charles  W.,  Makanda,  111. 

Jenkins,  John  M.,  Carbondale,  111. 

Johnson,  William,  Newman,  111. 

Koons,  Joseph,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Karn,  Earnest  E.,  Belle  River,  111.;  promoted  to  Corp. 

Laird,  Orley  E.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Legge,  Charles,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Morgan,  George  W.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111.;  promoted  to  Corp. 

Moyer,  Frank,  Mt.  Vernon,  111.;  promoted  to  Corp. 

Malone,  Cal. ,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Muir,  Ed  E.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Moore,  Edgar  T.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Mooney,  Earnest  V.,  Dayton,  Ohio;  promoted  to  Corp. 

Owens,  Ed  H.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Pierson,  John,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Palmer,  Charles,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Reid,  Bert,  Mt.  Vernon,  111.;  died  Sept.  14,  1898. 

Redburn,  Clarence  H.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Redman,  William,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Reece,   James  L. ,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Stephenson,  Charles,  Mt.  Vernon,   111;  promoted  to   Corp. 

Sprouse,   John  A.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Spies,   John  R.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Stanfield,  Charles  H.,  Buck  Creek,  Ind. 


74  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Trotter,  Dohn  C.  O.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Traver,  Carl,  Clinton,  Iowa. 
Wise,  Joe,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Wilbanks,  Crawford  B.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Wood,  John  P.,  Dahlgren,  111. 
Wilford,  Webster,  Marion,  111. 
Whitsell,  George  O.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

RECRUITS. 

Artzinga,  Edward,  Belleville.  111. 
Brougher,  Austin  L. ,  Obdyke,  111. 
Beagles,  Ambrose,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Dewey,  Charles  L. ,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Garrison,  Harry  L.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Garrison,  Jasper,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Ketcham,  Charles  W. ,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
May,  John  R.,  Enfield,  111. 
Marks,  Emerry  A.,  Flint,  111. 
Maloney,  John  T. ,  Jr.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
McMurray,  John,  Belleville,  111. 
Mason,  Noel  W.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Oldham,  Ned  B.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Rivers,  Ferdinand  R.,  Mt.  Vernon.  111. 
Reece,  Jesse  A.,  Marlow,  111. 
Sowers,  Lemuel,  Marlow,  111. 
Solomon,  Harris  B.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Sursa,  Samuel,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Threlkeld,  Edward  W.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
West,  Bert,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
Woody,  John  W. ,  Mattoon,  Ky. 

Corporal  Henry  J.  Brandon  was  transfered  to  the 
Signal  Corps,  a  short  time  before  leaving  Savannah, 
Georgia. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  75 

Corporal  Edward  Gibson  and  Earl  Hinman  were  pro- 
moted to  sergeants  while  in  Cuba. 

After  weeks  of  waiting  and  repeated  efforts  we  regret 
that  a  roster  so  incomplete  has  to  be  inserted. 


FERDINAND  J.   SCHRADER. 

Capt.  Ferdinand  J.  Schrader,  born  December  7,  1870, 
at  Belleville,  Illinois,  attended  city  public  school,  graduated 
therefrom  in  1886,  and  accepted  a  position  as  clerk  with 
the  St.  Clair  Title  Office,  examiners  of  land  titles,  with 
which  firm  he  is  still  connected.  When  Company  D, 
Fourth  Illinois  National  Guard,  was  organized,  March  i, 
1894,  he  enlisted  in  its  ranks  as  a  private;  soon  after  he 
was  appointed  corporal  and  then  sergeant,  and  before  he 
was  in  the  service  six  months  he  was  made  first  sergeant 
of  said  company.  On  March  25,  1895,  ne  was  elected 
second  lieutenant  of  the  company  and  served  in  that 
capacity  until  July  23,  1897,  when  he  was  elected  first 
lieutenant.  When,  on  April  26,  1898,  the  company  volun- 
teered its  service  to  the  United  States,  and  left  for  Spring- 
field, Illinois,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  go,  leaving  his  young 
wife,  whom  he  had  married  less  than  a  year  before,  dan- 
gerously ill,  with  a  baby  but  a  few  days  old,  and  was  mus- 
tered into  the  United  States  service  on  May  19,  1898,  as  the 
first  lieutenant  of  Company  D,  Fourth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry.  His  sense  of  duty  and  pride  kept  him  in  the 
service  until  his  company  was  mustered  out  at  Augusta, 
Georgia,  May  2,  1899.  Upon  the  resignation  of  the  cap- 
tain of  the  company  at  Jacksonville,  Florida,  in  July,  1898, 
JJeutenant  Schrader  was  recommended  by  the  colonel  of 
the  regiment  as  his  successor  and  on  July  15,  1898,  he  wa 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  77 

commissioned  as  such  by  Governor  Tanner.  In  the  capacity 
of  captain  he  served  until  the  final  muster  out  of  his  com- 
pany, at  Augusta,  Georgia,  May  2,  1899. 


EDWARD   ABEND,  JR. 

Lieut.  Edward  Abend,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Belleville,  Illi- 
nois, February  5,  1871,  and  where  his  home  has  been  dur- 
ing these  twenty-eight  years  of  his  life.  He  graduated 
from  the  public  schools  of  this  city  when  seventeen  years  of 
age,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Gas  &  Electric 
Light  Company  of  his  home  town  as  collector  and  book- 
keeper, which  position  he  held  until  November,  1897, 
when  he  was  elected  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  West- 
ern Brewing  Company,  which  he  filled  until  the  call  for 
troops  in  the  American-Spanish  War,  which  call  he  an- 
swered. 

In  the  year  1894  he  organized  Company  D,  Fourth 
Mlinois  Volunteers,  which  organization  was  sworn  in  on  the 
first  of  March,  1894,  he  entering  its  ranks  as  a  private. 
On  April  I4th,  of  the  same  year,  he  was .  appointed  cor- 
poral, and  on  July  3d  received  the  appointment  of  second 
sergeant.  March  2,  '1896,  he  was  made  first  sergeant, 
which  position  he  filled  until  July  23,  1897,  when  he  was 
commissioned  second  lieutenant.  On  the  first  call  for  vol- 
unteers in  the  late  war,  his  company  volunteered  in  a  body, 
and  he  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  volunteer  serv- 
ice May  19,  1898,  bearing  the  same  rank,  that  of  second 
lieutenant. 

Capt.  E.  P.  Rogers,  of  this  company,  having  resigned 
his  commission  in  the  army  July  15,  1898,  and  First  Lieut. 
F.  J.  Schrader  having  been  duly  commissioned  to  fill  the 
vacancy,  Lieut.  Abend  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of  first 


78  HISTORY    OF    THE 

lieutenant,  which  position  he  held  until  November  10, 
1898,  when  he  tendered  his  resignation;  returning  to  his 
native  city,  he  at  once  resumed  his  position  as  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Western  Brewing  Company. 


MILOSH  R.   HILGARD. 

Milosh  R.  Hilgard  was  born  in  1870,  and  makes  the 
business  of  plumber  his  occupation.  He  entered  the  United 
States  service  with  his  company,  bearing  a  commission  of 
second  lieutenant,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  the 
time  of  First  Lieutenant  Abend's  resignation,  some  months 
prior  to  the  removal  of  the  regiment  to  Havana,  Cuba, 
when  he  was  advanced  to  the  position  of  first  lieutenant, 
serving  in  this  capacity  until  the  company  was  released 
from  the  volunteer  service  by  muster  out. 


WILLIAM  CASIMIR  ANDEL. 

William  Casimir  Andel  was  born  in  Belleville,  Illinois, 
on  the  3Oth  day  of  June,  twenty-two  years  ago. 

He  spent  several  years  at  the  public  school,  of  this  city 
and  then  attended  the  Missouri  Military  Academy,  of  Mex- 
ico, Missouri,  from  which  he  graduated  with  honor  in  1895. 
He  secured  a  position  in  the  office  of  the  Belleville  Stove 
Works  after  returning  to  his  native  city  and  attended  com- 
mercial college  in  the  evenings.  In  July,  1895,  he  with 
his  brother,  George,  joined  Company  D,  Fourth  Regiment 
Illinois  National  Guards,  with  which  they  went  to  Spring- 
field in  1898  to  be  mustered  into  the  United  States  service 
to  fight  the  Spaniards.  Both  the  Andel  boys  remained 
privates,  until  August  8,  when  W.  C.  Andel  was  made 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  79 

Corporal,  though  their  father  was  now  their  colonel  and 
had  the  power  to  promote  them;  he  showed  no  partiality 
even  to  his  own  sons.  Late  in  the  summer  and  fall, 
when  the  companies  were  much  reduced  by  the  illness  of 
the  men,  Corporal  Andel  had  double  duty  to  do — being  for 
a  while  the  only  corporal  in  the  service  of  Company  D. 
He  also  acted  sergeant.  Owing  to  his  splendid  constitu- 
tion he  was  none  the  worse  for  the  overwork  in  spite  of  the 
dangerous  climate  of  the  southern  states  during  the  summer 
months.  For  his  faithfulness  to  duty,  and  interest  in  his 
work  he  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant  of  Company 
D  on  the  i8th  of  November,  1898,  filling  -the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  promotion  of  Lieutenant  Hilgard  to  first  lieu- 
tenant, taking  the  place  of  First  Lieutenant  Abend, 
resigned. 

On  January  3,  1899,  the  Fourth  regiment  sailed  for 
Cuba,  and  both  Lieutenant  Andel  and  his  brother,  though 
the  latter  had  been  dangerously  ill  in  Jacksonville,  Florida, 
went  with  them;  the  latter  afterwards  got  an  honorable  dis- 
charge and  came  home  the  last  of  January.  Lieutenant 
Andel  served  in  Cuba  with  his  regiment  until  it  returned  to 
the  United  States  in  April,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  on  May  2,  1899.  He  returned 
to  his  home  with  his  company,  and  accepted  his  old  posi- 
tion, which  was  kept  open  for  him. 

After  repeated  efforts  we  find  ourselves  at  the  press, 
without  an  historic  fact  from  Company  D,  which  must  not 
be  construed  as  indicating  a  non-history-producing  organ- 
ization. 


,'    £ 

*:          I 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  8 1 

COMPANY    D  ROSTER 

When   not  otherwise  stated,   mustered   in,  May  19,  1898,.. 
and  mustered  out,  May  2,  1899. 

SCHRADER,  FERDJ.,  Captain,  Belleville,  III. 
HILGARD,  MILOSH  R.,  First  Lieutenant,  Belleville,  111. 
ANDEL,  WILLIAM  C. ,  Second  Lieutenant,  Belleville,  111. 

SERGEANTS. 

Hutchinson,  William,  Belleville,  111. ;  enrolled  as  Serg't; 
appointed  First  Sergeant,  August  5,  1898. 

Barnikol,  Walter.  Belleville,  III.;  mustered  in  as  Corporal;, 
promoted  to  Serg't.  Nov.  26,  1898;  appointed 
Quartermaster  Sergeant,  March  2,  1899. 

Knoble,  Adolph  G.,  Belleville,  111. ;  mustered  in  as  Sergeant; 
acting  First  Sergeant  October  16  to  November  5,., 
1898. 

Link,  Charles,  Belleville,  111. ;  mustered  in  as  Quartermas- 
ter Sergeant;  relieved  by  Q.  M.  Serg't  BarnikoL, 
March  2,  1899. 

CORPORALS. 

Koener,  Kent  K. ,  Belleville,  111.;  mustered  in  as  Corporal; 

appointed  Serg't  September  22,  1898.      On  provost 

guard  in  August. 
Rhein,  Walter  L. ,  Belleville,  111.;  mustered  in  as  Corporal; 

on  duty  as  Acting  Serg't.,  October  15  to  November 

1 6,  1898. 
Adam,    Otto,    Belleville,    111.;   appointed  Corporal  July  8,. 

1898. 
Burk,  Edmund,  Belleville,  111.;  appointed  Corporal  July  8, 

1898. 

6 


82  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Merz,  Arthur  G.,  Belleville,  111. ;  appointed  Corporal  Sept. 

22,  1898. 
Koska,  Robert,  Belleville,  111. ;  appointed  Corporal  Nov.  26, 

1898. 
Wilderman,   Eugene,    Belleville,    111. ;  appointed  Corporal 

Nov.  26,  1898. 

COOK. 

Shaefer,  William  R. ,  Belleville,  111.;  appointed  Cook  Aug. 
29,  1898;  reduced  to  private  at  his  own  request, 
Nov.  26,  1898;  promoted  cook  March  n,  1899. 

ARTIFICER. 

Seifert,  William  F.,  Belleville,  111.;  appointed  Artificer  June 
i,  1898. 

MUSICIAN. 

McElhannon,  Robert  C.,  Nashville,  111. ;  appointed  Musi- 
cian Aug.  2,  1898. 

WAGONER. 

Wallace,  William  O.,  Lebanon,  111.;  enlisted  June  16,  1898; 
appointed  wagoner,  Sept.  2,  1898. 

PRIVATES. 

Brandmeier,  Fred,  Belleville,  111. ;  on  duty  as  colonel's  or- 
derly June  4  to  Sept.  8,  1898;  on  permanent  detail 
at  provost  headquarters  from  Oct.  19  to  Oct.  27, 
1898. 

:Badgley,  Calvin  I.,  Belleville,  111. 

Bonville,  William  F.,  Belleville,  111. 

Besse,  Robert  W.,  Belleville,  111.;  on  duty  as  cook  from 
May  21  to  Aug.  29,  1898. 

Burk,  William  P.,  Belleville,  111. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  83 

Braun,  John  A.,  Jr.,  Belleville,  111.;  enlisted  June  16, 
1898. 

Carter,  Charles,  Jr.,  Freeburg,  111. 

Chenot,  Benjamin  L. ,  Belleville,  111. ;  on  duty  with  regi- 
mental quartermaster,  June  8  to  June  12,  1898. 

Callihan,  Ollie  P. ;  orderly  at  brigade  headquarters  Sept. 
16  to  Oct.  1 8,  1898. 

Greener,  Joseph,  East  St.  Louis,  111. ;  on  duty  as  Armorer, 
with  ordnance  department  repair  shops,  July  9,  1898, 
to  April  n,  1899. 

Harris,  M.  Lesler,  Belleville,  111. 

Hughes,  James,  Belleville,  111. 

Hoppe,  William  M.,  Belleville,  111.;  orderly  and  clerk  at 
brigade  headquarters  from  Aug.  8,  1888,  to  Apr.  3, 
1899;  on  duty  at  regimental  headquarters  from 
Apr.  8,  1899. 

Homberg,  William  H.,  Belleville,  111.;  on  duty  with  Regi- 
mental Band  from  May  21  to  June  26,  1898. 

Hubert,  Charles,   Belleville,  111. 

Harden,  Elmer  E. ,  Belleville,  111.;  enlisted  June  23,  1898. 

Hess,  William  G.,  Belleville,  111.;  enlisted  June   17,  1898. 

Herman,  Theodore  F. ,  Belleville,  111.;  enlisted  June  17, 
1898;  on  permanent  detail  at  provost  headquarters 
from  Oct.  27  to  Dec.  23,  1898. 

Klass,  Fred,  Belleville,  111.;  appointed  Cook  Jan.  12,  1899; 
reduced  to  private  at  own  request,  Mch.  3,  1899;  on 
provost  guard  in  Augusta,  Ga. ,  from  Apr.  16,  1899. 

Koerner,  William  K.,  Belleville,  111. 

Kohl,  Jr.,  Julius  J.,  Belleville,  111.;  enlisted  June  17,  1898. 

Krause,  John  W. ,  Belleville,  111.;  enlisted  June  16,  1898; 
appointed  Company  Tailor  Dec.  25,  1898. 

Lord,  George  W. ,  East  St.  Louis,  111.;  enlisted  June  24, 
1898. 

McDougal,  D.  Grant. 


84  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Merker,  Samuel  A.,  Belleville,  111. 

Miller,  Philip,  Belleville,  111. ;  on  duty  as  Wagoner  from 
Sept.  15  to  Dec.  8,  1898. 

Maurer,  John,  Belleville,  111.;  enlisted  June  16,  1898. 

Munie,  Michael  L. ,  Belleville,  111. 

Meder,  Arthur  J.,  Belleville,   111.;  enlisted  June  16,  1898. 

Preston,  Lester  C. ,  Irving,  Kans. 

Paul,  Joseph  A.,  Belleville,  111. 

Rhein,  Walter,  Belleville,  111. 

Renecke,  Fred,  Belleville,  111. 

Radersheimer,  Henry  E.,  Belleville,  111.;  enlisted  June  17, 
1898. 

Smith,  Leon  G. ,  Belleville,  111. 

Smith,  Robert  M.,  Belleville,  111. 

Scahill,  Edwin  L,  Belleville,  111. 

Sarlouis,  John. 

Thomas,  Charles  E.,  Belleville,  111.;  detailed  as  courier  to 
General  Lee  July  4,  1898;  and  detached — mounted 
messenger;  detached  for  duty  at  Seventh  Army  Corps 
April  3,  1899.  Returned  to  company  April  18, 
1899. 

Totsch,  Charles  N.,  Belleville,  111.;  acting  corporal  from 
Oct.  15  to  Nov.  25,  1898. 

Tischbein,  George,   Belleville,  111.;  enlisted  June  25,  1898. 

Ward,  William  H.,  Belleville,  111. 

West,  Benjamin  J.,  Belleville,  111. 

Wunderle,  Gustavos,  Belleville,  111. ;  on  duty  at  regimental 
stables  June  5  to  n,  1898. 

Wolf,  Walter  J.,  Lebanon,  111.;  on  provost  guard  in  Au- 
gusta, Ga. ,  from  April  16  to  April  — ,  1899. 

RESIGNATIONS. 

Rogers,  Capt.  Eddy  P.,  Belleville,  111. ;  resignation  accept- 
ed to  date  from  July  15,  1898. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  85 

Abend,  Edward,  Jr.,  First  Lieutenant,  Belleville,  111.;  res- 
ignation accepted  to  bear  date  of  Nov.  9,  il 


DISCHARGED    FOR    DISABILITY. 

Harman,  J.  Albert,  Private,  Belleville,  111.,  discharged 
Sept.  7,  1898.  Honest  and  faithful  service.  Char- 
acter good. 

Waugelin,  Louis  E. ,  Corporal,  Belleville,  111. ;  made  Cor- 
poral July  8,  1898.  Discharged  Oct.  13,  1898. 
Service  honest  and  faithful.  Character  good. 

Wasmann,  Edgar  E.,  Private,  Belleville,  111. ;  enlisted  June 

1 6,  1898.      Discharged  Nov.  7,  1898.     Service  hon- 
est and  faithful.     Character  good. 

Schroeder,  Elmer,  Private,  Belleville,  111. ;  discharged  Nov. 

17,  1898.     Service  honest  and  faithful.      Character 
good. 

Schroeder,  Adolph  G. ,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  discharged 
Dec.  2,  1898.  Service  honest  and  faithful.  Character 
good. 

DISCHARGED  BY  ORDER  TO  ACCEPT  COMMISSION. 

Hilgard,  Milosh  R.,  First  Sergeant,  Belleville,  111.;  dis- 
charged Aug.  4,  1898,  to  accept  second  lieutenan- 
cy of  same  company. 

Andel,  William  C. ,  Corporal,  Belleville,  111.;  discharged 
Nov.  22,  1898,  to  accept  commission  as  second 
lieutenant  of  same  company. 

DISCHARGED  BY  ORDER. 

Niemyer,  Arthur,  Corporal,  Belleville,  111. ;  discharged  Sept. 

15,    1898. 

Ropiequet,  Richard  W.,  Sergeant,  Belleville,  111.;  mustered 
in  as  private,  on  regimental  recruiting  service,  from 
June  11,  to  29,  1898.  Clerk  of  regimental  com- 


86  HISTORY    OF    THE 

mander  July  9  to  Sept.  18,  1898.  Made  Sergeant 
Aug.  5,  1898.  Discharged  per  telegram  Sept.  17, 
1898. 

Betz,  Charles  W.,  Sergeant,  Belleville,  111.;  discharged  per 
telegram  Oct.  n,  1898. 

Bartel,  Fred  J.,  Private,  Belleville,  111. ;  discharged  per  tele- 
gram Oct.  29,  1898. 

McConaughy,  Malcom  M.,  Corporal,  Belleville,  111.;  made 
corporal  July  8,  1898.  Acting  sergeant  Oct.  15  to 
30,  1898.  Discharged  Oct.  30,  1898,  per  telegram. 

Wise,  Walter  A.,  Corporal,  Belleville,  111.  On  duty  with 
regimental  band  from  June  17,  1898.  Reduced  to 
ranks  July  6,  1898;  restored  a  corporal,  Aug.  5, 
1898;  discharged  by  telegram  Oct.  30,  1898. 

Bonean,  William  C.,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  discharged 
by  telegram  Oct.  30,  1898. 

Hay,  Eugene  J.,  Private,  Belleville,  111;  discharged  by  tele- 
gram Oct.  30,  1898. 

Hilgard,  Richard  W. ,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  discharged 
per  telegram  Oct.  30,  1898. 

Miller,  Fred  G. ,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  discharged  per 
telegram  Oct.  30,  1898. 

Englemann,  Otto  B.,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  enlisted  June 
1 6,  1898;  discharged  per  telegram  Nov.  9,  1898. 

Feucht,  Otto  H.,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  on  duty  as  corp- 
oral Oct.  15  to  Nov.  19,  1898;  discharged  per  tele- 
gram Nov.  17,  1898. 

Needles,  Homer,  Private,  Belleville,  111. ;  acting  Corporal 
Oct.  15  to  Nov.  17,  1898;  discharged  per  telegram 
Dec.  14,  1898. 

Schnittker,  William  T. ,  Musician,  Belleville,  111. ;  detailed 
as  Musician  June  6,  1898,  and  appointed  Musician 
Aug.  2,  1898;  discharged  per  telegram  Dec.  15, 
1898. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  8/ 

Poirot,  Edwin  J.,  Private,  Belleville,  111. ;  enlisted  June  17, 

1898;  discharged  per  telegram  Jan.  2,    1899. 
McCullough,  Robert  J.,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  discharged 

per  telegram  Jan.  2,  1899. 
Barnett,  Henry  J.,  Private,  Winamac,  Ind. ;  discharged  at 

U.  S.  General  Hospital  at  Ft.  Myers,  Va.,  June  17, 

1898. 
Andel,  George  K.,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  discharged  Jan. 

17,  1899. 
McCullough,   Ralph   E.,   Private,  Belleville,    111.;  enlisted 

June  23,  1898;  discharged  Jan.  17,  1899. 
Wooters,  Major,  Sergeant,  Belleville,  111. ;  discharged  Jan. 

21,  1899. 
Hoerr,  Adolph  J. ,  Private,  Belleville,  111. ;  discharged  Jan. 

21,  1899. 

Strauss,  Carl,  Corporal,  Belleville,  111.;  acting  Corporal 
from  Oct.  15  to  Nov.  25,  1898;  promoted  Corporal 
Nov.  26,  1898;  discharged  Feb.  n,  1899. 

Erwen,  Peter,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  on  duty  at  regi- 
mental stables  July  24  to  Sept.  27,  1898;  orderly  to 
regimental  commander  Sept.  8,  1898,  to  February 
!3>  ^99;  discharged  Feb.  13,  1899. 

Hill,  William  B.,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  enlisted  June  16, 
1898;  discharged  Feb.  13,  1899. 

Ward,  Edgar  A.,  Private,  Belleville,  111.,  discharged  Feb. 
14,  1899. 

Baker,  George  E.,  Private,  Belleville,  111.,  discharged  Feb. 
1 6,  1899. 

Mills,  William  N.,  Private,  Lebanon,  111.;  enlisted  June  16, 
1898;  discharged  March  8,  1899. 

Lind,  William  C. ,  Private,  Belleville,  111. ;  discharged  March 

22,  1899. 

Rogers,  Robert  D. ,  Private,  Belleville,  111. ;  discharged 
March  17,  1899. 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


TRANSFERS. 

Dickerson,  Edward  W.,  Private,  on  duty  at  regimental 
hospital  from  May  24  to  June  9,  1898;  transferred  to 
Hospital  Corps,  U.  S.  Army,  June  10,  1898. 

Goelitz,  Hugo  G.,  Corporal,  Belleville,  111.;  appointed 
corporal  July  8,  1898;  on  duty  at  regimental  head- 
quarters as  clerk  July  7  to  27,  1898;  clerk  at  divis- 
ion headquarters  July  27  to  August  9,  1898;  clerk  at 
regimental  headquarters  Aug.  10  to  Nov.  22,  1898; 
transferred  to  Hospital  Corps,  U.  S.  Army,  Nov. 
30,  1898. 

Merck,  Fred,  Corporal,  Belleville,  111. ;  on  duty  at  regimental 
bakery  July  27  to  September  26,  1898;  transferred 
as  first-class  private  to  U.  S.  Volunteer  Signal 
Corps,  December  14,  1898. 

DIED    OF    DISEASE. 

Metzger,  Fred  P.,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  enlisted  June  23, 
1898;  died  Sept.  19,  1898,  at  Belleville,  111. 

Archibald,  George,  Jr.,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  enlisted 
June  16,  1898;  died  Oct  13,  1898,  at  Third  Di- 
vision Hospital,  Seventh  Army  Corps. 

Wise,  Otto  J.,  Private,  Belleville,  111.;  died  Nov.  3,  i! 
at  Belleville,  111. 


COMPANY  C. 


Company  C  organized  at  Carbondale,  Illinois.  On  the 
night  of  April  24,  1898,  Captain  Barton  received  orders  to 
report  with  his  command  to  Col.  James  Washburn  at  the 
fair  grounds  in  Springfield,  April  26,  1898.  Was  mustered 


CAPT.    E.     E.    BARTON. 


into  the  United  States  volunteer  service  by  Captain  Roberts 
May  19,  1898.  On  the  26th  of  May  the  command  left 
Springfield  under  orders  to  report  to  General  Shafter  at 
Tampa,  Florida,  but  at  Albany,  Georgia,  orders  were  changed 


9O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

to  Jacksonville,  Florida,  arriving  there  May  29,  1898,  about 
2  o'clock  A.  M.  * 

At  day  break  the  order  was  given  to  fall  in,  or  rather 
fall  out  of  the  cars  and  then  fall  in.  On  this  trip  Company 
C  had  two  sleepers,  which  made  it  very  pleasant.  After 
eating  a  light  breakfast  of  canned  beef,  hard  tack  and  coffee, 
Company  C,  along  with  the  regiment,  was  marched  around 
through  the  sand  drain  up  into  regimental  front  in  the. woods, 
and  here  rested  until  about  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  camp  was 
pitched.  August  10,  1898,  the  command  marched  to  Pan- 
ama Park,  about  three  miles  north  of  the  first  camp.  Pre- 
vious to  this  move  the  company  had  been  recruited  up  to  one 
hundred  and  three  enlisted  men.  Panama  Park  was  where 
the  regiment  had  so  much  sickness.  In  Company  C,  with 
a  strength  of  one  hundred  and  five  men,  at  one  time  there 
were  only  six  privates,  two  corporals  and  the  captain  for 
duty,  the  rest  either  being  sick  in  hospital  quarters  or  on  a 
furlough. 

Matters  kept  growing  worse  until  September  25,  1898, 
when  General  Lee  issued  orders  for  the  regiment  to  proceed 
to  the  city  of  Jacksonville  for  provost  guard  duty,  and  Com- 
pany C  was  assigned  to  station  No.  2  at  General  Lee's 
headquarters.  On  October  24  the  company  moved  to 
Savannah,  Georgia,  and  was  assigned  to  station  No.  2,  Irish 
Park.  Moved  from  provost  station  about  two  miles  into 
the  country  on  November  28,  to  Camp  Onward,  Georgia. 
Received  orders  January  2,  1899,  to  proceed  to  Havana, 
Cuba.  Broke  up  camp  the  morning  of  January  3,  and 
marched  through  the  streets  of  Savannah  to  the  wharf  and 
embarked  on  the  transport  "Mobile"  for  Cuba.  Arrived 
in  Havana  harbor  January  5,  disembarked  and  marched 
through  Havana  out  to  Camp  Columbia  January  7,  a  dis- 
tance of  about  five  miles.  Left  Camp  Columbia  Febru- 
ary 16  for  practice  march  to  Guines,  Cuba;  arrived  Febru- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  91 

ary  21.  Passed  in  review  before  General  Gomez  Febru- 
ary 23.  Started  on  return  trip  to  camp  February  24, 
arriving  in  camp  February  27.  Left  Camp  Columbia  for 
Havana  April  4;  embarked  on  transport  "Yarmouth  "  for 
Egmont  Key  April  4,  arrived  April  5,  disembarked  and 
went  into  quarantine  at  United  States  detention  camp  April 
6.  Embarked  on  steamer  for  Port  Tampa  April  10,  arriv- 
ing same  date;  thence  by  rail  to  Augusta,  Georgia,  arriving 
April  1 1.  Mustered  out  of  service  May  2,  1899,  at  Augusta, 
Georgia. 

On  the  evening  of  March  16,  1899,  Colonel  Swift  or- 
dered Captain  Barton  to  report  to  him  with  the  company. 
The  colonel  then  presented  him  a  handsome  sword,  the 
gift  of  the  company,  with  a  few  words  to  the  captain. 
Among  other  things  the  colonel  said:  "The  position  of 
captain  is  the  hardest  in  the  army  to  fill  and  still  hold  the 
respect  and  admiration  of  his  men  and  his  colonel.  I  am 
pleased  to  present  this  sword  to  a  man  who  has  success- 
fully filled  that  office." 


COMPANY  C  ROSTER. 

E.  E.  BARTON,  Captain,  Carbondale,  111. 

THOMAS  F.  LOUDON,  First  Lieutenant,  Carbondale,  111. 

HORACE  F.  TEETER,   Second  Lieutenant,  Carbondale,  111. 

SERGEANTS. 

Oliver  P.  Robinson,  First  Sergeant;  enrolled  as  private, 
mustered  in  as  Corporal,  appointed  Sergeant  Oct.  I, 
1898;  appointed  First  Sergeant  Dec.  26. 

William  E.  Davis,  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  Marion,  111. ; 
mustered  in  as  Corporal,  appointed  Quartermaster 
Sergeant  Feb.  11,  1899. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  93 

Barton,  Richard  H.,  Carbondale,  111.,  mustered  in  as  Ser- 
geant. 

Thompson,  WardE.,  Carbondale,  111.;  mustered  in  as  Ser- 
geant. 

June,  Marvin  A.,  Cairo,  111.;  mustered  >in  as  Corporal,  ap- 
pointed Sergeant  July  26,  1898. 

Hemphill,  Walter,  Carbondale,  111. ;  mustered  in  as  Cor- 
poral, appointed  Sergeant  Feb.  9,  1899. 

CORPORALS. 

Taylor,  Charles   H.,  Carbondale,  111.;  appointed  Corporal 

July  26,  1898. 
Dixon,  Claude  M.,   Carbondale,    111.;   appointed   Corporal 

July  26,  1898. 
Loudon,  Oliver  P.,  Carbondale,    111.;  appointed   Corporal 

July  26,  1898. 
Hord,  Robert  G.,  Carbondale,  111. ;  appointed  Corporal  July 

26,  1898. 
Boulden,  William  G.,  Carbondale,  111. ;  appointed  Corporal 

December  15,  1898. 
Knight,  John  C.,  Marion,  111.;  appointed  Corporal  Dec.  19, 

1898. 
Hunter,  Floyd,  Marion,  111.;  appointed  Corporal  Jan.  n, 

1899. 
Kedin,  Carl  F.,  Chicago,  111.;  appointed  Corporal  Jan.  n, 

1899. 
Walker,    Ben    A.,    Carbondale,    111.;    appointed   Corporal 

March  26,  1899. 
Byron,   Joseph    E.,    Galesburg,    111.;    appointed    Corporal 

April  7,  1899. 
Grant,    Ernest   R. ,    Carbondale,    111.;  appointed   Corporal 

April  7,  1899. 
Ashley,  Charles  H.,  Carbondale,    111.;  appointed  Corporal 

April  7,  1899. 


94  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Parrish,  John,  Makanda,  111.;  appointed  Corporal  April  7, 
1899. 

MUSICIAN. 

Conner,  Benjamin,  Carbondale,  III. 

ARTIFICER. 

Doolin,    John    A.,     Carbondale,    111.;    appointed  Artificer 
Sept.  2,  1898. 

PRIVATES. 

Anderson,  Charles  E.,  Carterville,  111. 

Baker,  Marcus,  Cottage  Home,  111. 

Baker,  Fred  G.,  Meade,  111. 

Bricker,  George,  Carbondale,  111. 

Bailey,  Thomas  C. ,  Makanda,  111. 

Boyce,  Donald,  Murphysboro,  111. 

Barringer,  Joseph  X.,  Fredonia,  111. 

Cline,  Harry  X.,  Marion,  111. 

Childers,  William,  Carbondale,    111. 

Cole,  Warren  A.,  East  St.  Louis,  111. 

Cowan,  Charles  A.,  Carbondale,  111. 

Crowell,   Frank,  Carbondale,  111. 

Crowell,  Joseph,  Carbondale,  111. 

Cunningham,  Ross  H.,  Marion,  111. 

Dixon,  Harry  E.,  Carbondale,  111. 

Davis,  Daniel  W. ,  Marion,  111. 

Dickson,  Edward,  Carbondale,  111. 

Daily,  John  H.,  Pinckneyville,  111. 

Deck,  William  A.,  Makanda,  111. 

Dever,  Charles  L. ,  Metropolis,  111. 

Etherton,  Loren  E.,  Makanda,  111. 

Elliott,  Frank,  Carbondale,  111. 

French,  William,  Pinckneyville'  111.     This  man  holds  the 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  95 

record  of  the  company,  never  having  been   on  the 

sick  list. 

Gher,  Thomas  F.,  Makanda,  111. 
Guill,  Robert  C. ,  McLeansboro,  111. 
Gallaway,  Charles,  Norris  City,  111. 
Hayden,  Kenneth,  Carbondale,  111. 
Hendrickson,  Willis,   Sparta,  111. 
Hinchcliff,  Samuel  V.,  Carbondale,  111. 
Hinchcliff,  Ernest  A.,  Carbondale,  111. 
Holiday,  Walter  C.,  Murphysboro,  111. 
Hartwell,  Charles  K. ,  New  Dennison,  111. 
Hawkins,  Dwight  J.,  Carbondale,  111. 
Henley,  George  W.,  Makanda,  111. 
Jeter,  Robert  H.,  Marion,  111. 
Jones,  Frank  I.,  Pinckneyville,  111. 
K*ys,  John  E.,  Thompsonville,  111. 
Kirkpatrick,  Carl,  Virden,  111. 
Knight,  James  S. ,  Thompsonville,  111. 
Knight,  William,  Marion,  111. 
King,  Harry  A.,  Eddyville,  111. 
Montgomery,  Augustin  B.,  Du  Quoin,  111. 
McMillan,  John  F. ,  Carterville,  111. 
Nolan,  James  F.,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 
North,  Lee  Roy,  Cottage  Home,  111. 
Nauman,  Fred  L. ,  Carbondale,  111. 
Otis,  John,  Jersey  City,  N.  J. 
Ogden,  John,  Carbondale,  111. 
Pursell,  Perry  P.,  Pinckneyville,  111. 
Rodman,  Harry  C. ,  Du  Quoin,  111. 
Smith,  Edward  H.,  Carbondale,  111. 
.Strauch,  Ernest  A.,  Pinckneyville,  111. 
Stanley,  Rupert  A.,  Makanda,  111. 
Sands,  John  A.,  Masters,  111. 
.Sanders,  David  R. ,  Progress,  111. 


96  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Sowers,  John  W.,  Murphysboro,  111. 
Thompson,  William,  Carbondale,  111. 
Taylor,  Charles  R. ,  Carbondale,  111. 
Turman,  Alfred,  Carbondale,  111. 
Toler,  William  I.,  Carbondale,  111. 
Tinsley,  Sod,  Pinckneyville,  111. 
Waters,  Thomas  B.,  Marion,  111. 

DISCHARGED. 

William  W.  Biggs,  Carbondale,  Aug.  22,  1898. 
Thomas  M.  Otrich,  Anna,  Sept.  4,  1898. 
Louis  H.  Kaha,  Cairo,  Oct.  15,  1898. 
Charles  R.  Stuart,  Cairo,  Oct.  30,  1898. 
Edward  E.  Miller,  Makanda,  Dec.  25,  1898. 
Chas.  D.  M.  Renfro,  Carbondale,  Dec.  19,  1898. 
Frederick  L.  Jones,  Murphysboro,  Jan.  i,  1899. 
Homer  E.  Mills,  Makanda,  Jan.  I,  1899. 
James  M.  Scurlock,  Jr.,  Carbondale,  Jan.  26,  1899. 
Charles  R.  Slade,  Woodlawn,  Feb.  3,  1899. 
John  B.  Bristol,  Cairo,  Feb.  4,  1899. 
James  W.  Stephens,  Marion,  Feb.  6,  1899. 
Elbert  L.  Damron,  Progress,  Feb.  6,  1899. 
William  L.  Ellis,  Murphysboro,  Feb.    13,  1899. 
Ephraim  Hagler,  Makanda,  Feb.  13,  1899. 
Elliott  L.  Morton,  Paris,  Feb.    18,  1899. 

TRANSFERRED. 

Carl  Baker,  Mead,  hospital  corps,  June  10,  1898. 
Percy  C.  Linck,  Robinson,  hospital  corps,  June   10,  1898. 
Harry  L.  Stites,  Cairo,  hospital  corps,  June  10,  1898. 
Horace  Sorrels,  Hope,  Kansas,  signal  corps,  December  3, 

1898. 
Stanley  R.  Sharts,  Marion,  engineer  corps,  December  25, 

1898. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  97 

THE  HOME  RECEPTION. 

As  was  anticipated  by  the  friends  of  Company  C,  the 
home  coming  was  not  in  compact  form — some  of  the  men 
residing  at  Cairo,  some  at  Makanda  and  other  points — 
therefore  the  date  of  reception  was  fixed  for  Tuesday  even- 
ing, May  9.  Ample  preparations  were  made  by  the  citizens 
of  Carbondale.  As  is  usual  in  this  city,  the  general  pub- 
lic received  the  committees  with  open  hearts  and  hands. 
The  proprietors  of  the  opera  house  generously  tendered  the 
free  use  of  that  comfortable  and  commodious  building. 
The  new  proprietor  of  the  Newell  House  threw  open  wide 
the  doors  from  basement  to  attic  without  a  cent  of  charge. 
The  electric  railway  gratuitously  furnished  all  desired  lights. 
Of  provisions  of  every  character  there  was  enough  and  to 
spare,  all  contributed  by  our  generous  people. 

The  entertainment  at  the  opera  house  was  a  grand 
success.  The  program  was  elaborate  and  well  rendered. 
Capt.  S.  Walker  presided.  The  short  address  introducing 
the  soldiers  to  the  public  did  credit  to  the  old  veteran.  It 
was  a  burst  of  eloquence  and  pathos  that  will  be  long 
remembered  by  those  present.  Judge  Barr,  in  his  address 
of  welcome,  added  to  his  reputation  as  an  orator.  The 
only  fault  was  that  he  did  not  occupy  more  time.  He  paid 
eloquent  tribute  to  the  returned  soldiers,  lauded  the  men  in 
the  field  and  fully  endorsed  the  acts  of  President  McKinley 
in  his  conduct  of  the  war.  The  songs,  recitations,  etc., 
were  of  a  high  order.  Grear's  Concert  Band,  of  Murphys- 
boro,  certainly  the  best  musical  organization  in  southern 
Illinois,  gave  the  finishing  touches  to  the  occasion  and  gave 
the  public  a  grand  specimen  of  the  talent  our  sister  city  has 
gathered  together  and  of  which  she  is  justly  proud.  And 
here  we  desire  to  say  that  this  fine  band  contributed  finan- 
cially to  the  reception  by  making  a  charge  for  services  but 

7 


•98  HISTORY    OF    THE 

little  in  excess  of  expenses  incurred  in  transit  between  the 
two  cities. 

At  the  banquet  plates  were  laid  for  one  hundred. 
Eighty  soldiers  sat  down  and  were  amply  supplied  with  the 
very  best  the  good  ladies  of  our  city  could  prepare  for 
them.  The  mothers,  sisters  and  cousins  waited  on  the 
tables.  And  the  boys  enjoyed  it  all.  When  the  soldiers 
had  finished,  then  the  relatives  and  friends  again  and  again 
filled  the  tables  until  not  less  than  three  hundred  had  par- 
ticipated. 

A  social  reunion  and  dance  closed  the  festivities.  All 
who  so  desired  participated.  Not  until  dawn  announced 
that  the  night  had  passed  did  the  merry,  happy  girls  and 
boys  cease  their  enjoyment.  It  was  a  joyous  occasion  and 
a  full  tide  of  happiness  had  sway  throughout. 

May  we  not  suggest  to  the  boys  of  Company  C  that 
they  form  an  organization  and  hold  annual  reunions?  Our 
people  would  be  glad  to  meet  them  at  least  once  a  year 
and  entertain  them  as  they  deserve. 


EDWARD  J.  LANG. 

Maj.  Edward  J.  Lang,  born  at  Paris,  Illinois,  April  10, 
1867,  graduated  Paris  High  school,  1885,  thoroughly  mas- 
tered the  trade  of  carpentry  and  joiner  and  was  foreman 
for  a  number  of  leading  contractors  in  Paris,  and  other 
cities,  and  followed  the  business  of  contractor  and  builder 
up  to  July,  1897.  Was  appointed  instructor  of  woodwork- 
ing in  Illinois  Institution  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  and  con- 
tinued in  this  occupation  until  call  of  the  President  for  vol- 
unteers. Joined  Company  H,  Fourth  Regiment,  Illinois 
National  Guard,  April  20,  1887,  appointed  corporal  and 
sergeant.  Elected  second  lieutenant  and  first  lieutenant. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


99 


Became  captain  of  company  September  3,  1890.  Elected 
major  Fourth  Regiment,  Illinois  National  Guard,  May  10, 
1893,  and  re-elected  May  10,  1897.  Answered  call  for 
volunteers  April  26,  and  was  commissioned  major  of  Fourth 
Illinois  Infantry  by  Governor  Tanner  May  20,  1897. 
Served  with  regiment  at  Camp  Tanner;  Springfield,  Illinois; 
Jacksonville,  Florida;  Savannah,  Georgia;  and  Havana, 


MAJOR    E.    J.    LANG. 

Cuba,  and  mustered  out  with  regiment  at  Augusta,  Georgia, 
May  2,  1899.  Served  with  regiment  at  Cairo,  Illinois,  in 
railroad  strike  of  1894.  Was  in  command  of  five  compa- 
nies of  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guard  at  railroad  strike  in 
Chicago  for  eleven  days,  1894. 

The  Second  Battalion,  Fourth  Regiment  Infantry,  Illi- 
nois Volunteers,  formerly  Second  Battalion,  Fourth  Regi- 


IOO  HISTORY   OF   THE 

ment,  Illinois  National  Guard,  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  Volunteer  Army  on  the  2Othday  of  May,  1898.  The 
battalion,  as  mustered  in  then,  was  practically  the  same 
as  in  the  National  Guard,  although  there  was  a  slight  addi- 
tion to  the  personnel  of  the  enlisted  men,  but  the  officers 
were  the  same  as  in  the  Illinois  National  Guard.  Before 
leaving  Camp  Tanner,  Springfield,  Illinois,  for  the  place  of 
rendezvous,  the  regiment  was  recruited  to  the  minimum 
fighting  strength,  or  eighty-one  enlisted  men  and  three 
officers.  But  later,  on  June  10,  1898,  orders  were  received 
from  the  War  Department  to  recruit  up  to  the  maximum 
fighting  strength  of  one  hundred  and  six  men  and  three 
officers.  This  was  done  under  the  supervision  of  Capt. 
H.  S.  Parker  and  a  detail  of  one  man  from  each  company, 
with  headquarters  at  Effingham,  Illinois.  By  June  27, 
1898,  the  battalion  numbered  one  hundred  and  six  men  to 
each  company. 

The  composition  of  the  battalion  at  the  time  of  muster 
in  was  as  follows: 

Major — Edward  J.  Lang,  commanding. 
Adjutant — First  Lieutenant  H.  J.  White. 
Sergeant-Major — Sergeant  Harry  E.  Shutt. 
Quartermaster-Sergeant — Sergeant  Lew  Myers. 
Trumpeter- Sergeant — Sergeant  Coma  Fragden. 

The  companies  were  officered  in  the  following  order: 

COMPANY  G. 

Captain — C.  E.  Ryman. 
First  Lieutenant — John  Burr. 
Second  Lieutenant — John  Wright. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  IOI 

COMPANY  I. 

Captain — Samuel  S.  Houston. 
First  Lieutenant — E.  P.  Clayton. 
Second  Lieutenant — P.  P.  Stout. 

COMPANY  K. 

Captain — David  Davis,  Jr. 

First  Lieutenant — George  L.  Zink,  Jr. 

Second  Lieutenant — William  F.  LaForce. 

COMPANY  B. 

Captain — E.  W.  Hersh. 

First  Lieutenant — W.  A.  Howell. 

Second  Lieutenant — Lyman  Harris. 

According  to  the  United  States  organization,  the  bat- 
talion sergeant-major,  quartermaster-sergeant  and  trum- 
peter-sergeant are  simply  details  instead  of  extra  sergeants, 
and  accordingly  these  three  "non-coms",  joined  a  com- 
pany. Sergeant  Shutt  was  subsequently  detailed  as  ser- 
geant-major and  acted  as  such  up  to  the  time  of  his  pro- 
motion. 

There  were  several  changes  among  the  officers,  and  are 
as  follow: 

On  February  i,  1899,  Capt.  David  Davis,  Jr.,  resigned, 
leaving  a  vacancy  in  the  captaincy  of  Company  K.  Second 
Lieutenant  LaForce  also  resigned,  leaving  a  vacancy  there. 
First  Lieut.  George  L.  Zink  was  made  captain.  Sergeant 
Seamen  was  made  first  lieutenant  and  Sergeant  Rose 
second  lieutenant.  Sergeant-Major  Shutt,  on  November 
i,  1898,  was  made  second  lieutenant  of  Company  H,  this 
leaving  a  vacancy  as  sergeant-major.  Sergt.  F.  S.  Barker, 


IO2  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  Company  B,  was  made  sergeant-major  to  fill  this 
vacancy. 

Another  change  made  in  the  personnel  of  the  officers 
was  when  Captain  E.  W.  Hersh  of  Company  B  resigned, 
on  February  18.  First  Lieutenant  W.  A.  Howell  was 
commissioned  as  captain,  Second  Lieutenant  Lyman  Har- 
ris as  first  lieutenant  and  sergeant,  Major  F.  S.  Barker  as 
second  lieutenant.  This  left  another  vacancy  as  sergeant- 
major  and  Sergeant  Charles  Clark  of  Company  I  was  ap- 
pointed to  fill  this  vacancy.  On  February  i,  Lieutenant 
H.  J.  White,  battalion  adjutant,  resigned,  and  his  position 
was  filled  by  a  detail  of  one  of  the  line  lieutenants  as  act- 
ing adjutant. 

The  Second  Battalion  has  always  made  a  fine  record 
for  itself  in  drill  and  military  bearing.  Its  drill  at  the 
time  of  muster  into  the  United  States  service  was  chiefly  in 
battle  formation,  and  by  extraordinary  hard  work  prepared 
itself  to  meet  the  enemy,  but  it  never  had  the  opportunity 
as  the  protocol  was  signed  while  the  Fourth  Regiment  was 
still  on  the  soil  of  the  United  States.  But  the  protocol 
did  not  stop  the  hard  work,  the  regiment  kept  persis- 
tently and  gained  a  degree  of  proficiency  in  drills  and 
reviews  not  surpassed  by  any  other  in  volunteer  service, 
and  when  it  appeared  before  our  President  and  that  gallant 
old  man,  General  Wheeler,  brought  forth  the  remark  by  the 
President,  — "  That  is  the  best  volunteer  regiment  I  have 
ever  seen."  The  battalion  has  served  with  the  regiment 
throughout  the  service,  being  in  Camp  Tanner,  Springfield; 
Camp  Cuba  Libre,  Jacksonville,  Florida;  Camp  Panama 
Park,  Panama  Park,  Florida;  Camp  Onward,  Savannah, 
Georgia,  and  Camp  Columbia,  Cuba.  The  battalion  move- 
ments up  to  the  time  of  leaving  Cuba  for  the  United  States 
have  been  identical  with  those  of  the  regiment. 

In  the  morning  of  April  4,  1899,  at  10  A.  M.,  the  two 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


103. 


battalions  received  orders  to  embark   on    the    steamship 
Yarmouth  for  transportation  to  the  United  States. 

Soon  after  "the  general"  was  sounded  and  tents 
were  struck,  and  in  less  than  an  hour  the  battalion  was 
ready  for  the  hot  wearisome  march  from  Camp  Columbia 
to  the  San  Jose  wharf  in  Havana,  a  distance  of  about  five 
and  one-half  miles.  This  distance  was  covered  by  4:00 
P.  M.,  and  soon  after  the  wagon  train  began  arriving  with 


^  -7-^. 


TRANSPORT    YARMOUTH. 

camp  equipage  and  baggage,  and  it  was  then  loaded  on  the 
transport.  As  the  loading  was  not  completed  by  5:00 
o'clock,  the  ship  steamed  out  in  the  ocean  and  anchored  off 
Morro  Castle  and  the  rest  of  the  baggage  was  brought  out 
on  a  lighter  and  put  on  board  our  ship.  This  work  was 
finished  by  8:00  P.  M.,  and  the  ship  immediatelv  weighed 
anchor  and  started  for  Egmont  Key  quarantine  station. 


IO4 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Soon  after  the  lighter  parted  company  with  us,  an  in- 
cident occurred  that,  for  the  time,  caused  some  little  flurry 
of  excitement.  The  bedding  in  one  of  the  forward  state 
rooms  took  fire,  and  the  captain  at  once  deciding  to  take  no 
chances,  ordered  the  boat  turned  to  the  shore.  But  the 
discipline  of  the  crew  and  the  self  control  of  the  soldiers 
having  knowledge  of  it,  prevailed,  and  it  was  soon  extin- 
guished, having  done  but  little  damage.  Yarmouth  at 
once  turned  her  prow  to  the  north,  proudly  riding  the  gentle 
billows. 

As  seems  common  in  the  case  of  soldiers,  sea-sickness 


SEASICK. 

began-to-manifest  itself,  but  it  was  reserved  for  the  follow- 
ing day  to  see  just  how  it  could  get  in  its  work  to  the  dis- 
comfort of  about  two-thirds  of  our  men,  many  of  whom  be- 
came very  impolite  and  spit  (?)  on  the  floor,  while  some 
who  tried  to  act  in  well  bred  style  made  the  most  miserable 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  IOS 

botch  of  it.  The  fellow  that  never  experiences  it  don't 
know  how  good  one  feels  after  he  recovers  from  this 
dreaded  affliction,  and  can  poke  fun  at  the  other  fellow  who 
has  not  yet  got  beyond  the  period  when  he  wants  to  walk, 
have  the  boat  sink,  or  is  willing  to  die, — just  "any  old 
thing"  other  than  that  which  drafts  so  heavily  on  his  atten- 
tion, and  his  stomach  also,  at  times.  After  a  ride  continu- 
ing less  than  twenty-four  hours  we  found  ourselves  viewing 
the  setting  sun  off  Millet  Key,  the  island  on  which  the 
Florida  state  quarantine  is  located,  twenty-five  miles  out 
the  bay  from  Port  Tampa,  when  the  boat's  captain  reported, 
and  the  ship  was  moved  off  a  short  distance  and  anchored 
to  await  the  dawning  of  another  day,  while  many  of  us 
sought  our  resting  place  on  the  deck  and  wrapped  our  blank- 
ets about  us  only  to  realize  we  were  in  a  climate  several 
degrees  colder  than  where  we  spent  the  night  before,  for 
north  wind  seemed  to  be  coming  off  an  iceberg  or  some 
other  refrigerator  plant. 

Soon  after  the  dawn  of  day  on  the  sixth,  the  early 
riser  could  see  a  ship  approaching  from  the  south,  which 
on  reaching  our  port  side  we  discovered  was  crowded  with 
bluecoats,  who  later  proved  to  be  our  comrades  on  the 
sleepy  Whitney,  which  had  left  Havana  harbor  some  three 
hours  in  advance  of  us. 

After  considerable  "red  tape"  delay  and  a  busy  day 
of  unloading  the  freight  of  our  vessels,  during  which  time 
a  severe  storm  had  arisen,  making  the  bay  quite  rough, 
we  were  taken  off  by  a  tug  and  landed  on  Egmont  Key, 
which  is  certainly  a  well-chosen  point  for  a  quarantine,  . 
i.  c. ,  if  the  desire  to  keep  those  quartered  there  from  enter- 
ing the  state,  for  its  dreariness  would  produce  almost  any 
disease  desired.  Here  Companies  D  and  B  found  quarters 
intents  ready  awaiting  "  folk  of  their  ilk,"  while  the  rest 
of  us  pitched  the  tents  we  brought  with  us  from  Cuba. 


io6 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


The  scenes  without  our  canvas  cottages,  viewed  by  the 
light  of  oil  lamps  placed  at  intervals  throughout  the  camp, 
and  the  growling,  hissing  wind  from  off  the  sea  that  flapped 
our  tents,  growing  colder  and  colder,  was  about  as  cheer- 
less as  any  picture  we  had  looked  upon  in  our  soldier  life. 
True,  the  white  sand  of  which  the  island  is  composed 
reminded  us,  though  faintly,  of  the  snow-clad  earth  of  our 


BEFORE  AND  AFTER  FUMIGATION. 

own  state.  Yet  it  lacked  the  cheer  attending  the  fall  and 
glitter  of  those  beautiful  crystals  of  our  "far  off  north- 
land." 

But,  as  if  to  add  to  our  grief  and  chagrin,  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning  we  found  ourselves  wet  from  the  rain  that 
sifted  through  our  tents  during  the  night,  while  the  surgeon 
in  charge  forbid  our  going  to  the  beach,  not  one  hundred 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  IO/ 

yards  distant,  with  all  our  longing  to  gather  shells.  All 
this  seemed  not  only  arbitrarily  inconsistent  to  us,  but  no 
less  displeasing.  Still  more,  at  roll-call  our  sergeants  read 
an  order  from  our  commander  forbidding  any  man,  under 
penalty  of  ten  days'  extra  quarantine,  to  leave  the  grounds 
enclosed  by  the  double  barbed-wire  fence,  strong  and  high. 
We  didn't  kick  to  the  colonel  about  it,  knowing  he  was 
only  conforming  to  quarantine  regulations,  yet  it  seemed 
they  feared  we  would  inocculate  the  sand  on  the  seashore, 
or  the  worthless  growths  on  this  more  worthless  little  hump 
in  the  sea.  Here,  also,  we  went  through  all  the  horrors  of 
fumigation  during  the  three  long,  wearisome  days  of  our 
stay  on  Egmont  Key.  The  anxiety  to  part  company  with 
this  inhospitable  sand  bank  was  not  less  than  that  which  was 
felt  in  reference  tp  getting  away  from  the  more  lovely  land 
of  Cuba.  But  the  work  of  the  disinfecting  of  our  stuff  was 
completed,  and  the  evening  of  the  9th  settled  upon  us  to 
find  all  our  baggage  on  board  the  little  Margaret,  that  was 
to  steam  us  up  the  bay  to  Port  Tampa,  while  all  in  camp 
sank  into  the  usual  quiet  under  a  clear  sky. 

Monday,  morning  witnessed  the  unusual  activity  that 
ordinarily  attends  the  moving  of  a  camp;  but  the  labor  was 
much  reduced  on  this  occasion,  since  we  were  not  to  move 
our  tentage. 

At  an  early  hour  the  last  of  our  movables  was  put  on 
board  and  we  soon  followed.  When  the  little  ship,  on 
which  we  were  so  closely  packed  as  to  find  little  more  than 
standing  room,  loosed  her  lines  and  started  for  our  next 
transfer  point,  where  we  landed  about  1 1  A.M.,  and  by  4 
P.  M.  we  were  moving  out  of  Port  Tampa  on  the  third 
section  of  a  train  booked  for  Savannah,  Georgia.  But  the 
unexpected  and  undesired  again  occurred,  for  the  next  day, 
when  almost  in  sight  of  our  desired  destination,  we  were 
run  out  another  road  and  brought  to  Augusta,  Georgia, 


IO8  HISTORY    OF   THE 

where  we  found  in  Camp  McKensie  well-fitted  quarters 
awaiting  us,  where  we  began,  as  a  regiment,  the  last  of  our 
camp  housekeeping  experience,  which  culminated  with  our 
being  mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service,  with  the 
remainder  of  our  regiment,  on  the  2d  of  May,  1899,  and 
the  same  day  started  for  our  respective  homes. 


COMPANY  G  ROSTER. 

The  following  we  copy  from  a  roster  published  soon 
after  the  company  entered  the  United  States  service: 

CLAUD  E.  RYMAN,  Captain,  Effingham,  111. 
JOHN  BURR,  First  Lieutenant,  Effingham,  111. 
JOHN  R.  WRIGHT,  Second  Lieutenant,  Effingham,  111. 
JOHN  C.  HUTCHINGS,  First  Sergeant,  Effingham,  111. 
JOSEPH    H.    HICKMAN,    Quartermaster   Sergeant,     Effing- 
ham, 111. 

SERGEANTS. 

Roy  E.  Seltz,  Effingham,   111. 
Frank  E.  Worthington,  Effingham,  111. 
George  H.  Harvey,  Effingham,  111. 
French  E.  McElroy,  Effingham,  111. 

CORPORALS. 

Isaac  N.  Cook,  Effingham,  111. 
Clyde  E.  Pfeifer,  Effingham,  111. 
Charles  F.  Thomas,  Effingham,  111. 
Arthur  L.  Abraham,  Watson,  111. 
William  J.  Cook,  Patoka,  111. 
John  H.  Dial,  Altamont,  111. 
Haden  Shouse,  Effingham,  111. 
Charles  F.  Gravenhoust,  Effingham,  111. 


IIO  HISTORY   OF   THE 

James  W.  Davis,  Fredricksburg,  Ind. 
Abbie  B.  Switzer,  Farina,  111. 
Edward  C.  Donaldson,  Edgewood,  111. 

MUSICIANS. 

William  N.  Schneider,  Effingham,  111. 
Schuyler  R.  Parrill,  Farina,  111. 

ARTIFICER. 

Samuel  N.  Mefford,  Knoxville,  Tenn. 

WAGONER. 

Freeman  Shouse,  Effingham,  111. 

PRIVATES. 

Alexander,  Stephen  T.,  Effingham,  111. 
Anderson,  William  D.,  Effingham,  111. 
Austin,  Calvin  P.,  Effingham,  111. 
Baughman,  Charles  A.,  Effingham,  111. 
Ballenger,  Reuben,  Effingham,  111. 
Barnes,  Rodney,  Effingham,  111. 
Bascom,  Francis  M.,  Farina,  111. 
Bourland,  Alexander  B.,  Effingham,  111. 
Brooks,  Charles,  Effingham,  111. 
Carman,  William  H.,  Effingham,  111. 
Case,  Harry  R.,  Farina,  111. 
Claypool,  Fred  A.,  Edgewood,  111. 
Cook,  John  R.,  Patoka,  111. 
Cronk,  John  A.,  Watson,  111. 
Cronk,  James  A.,  Watson,  111. 
Currie,  Arthur,  Brubaker,  111. 
Crist,  Charles  E.,  Alma,  111. 
Caldwell,  Bert  W.,  Effingham,  111. 
Denind,  David  U.,  Effingham,  111. 


FOURTH    ILLINO'    .  III 


Doobs,  Charles,  Louisville,  111. 
Dial,  Silas  M.,  Altamont,  111. 
Dunlap,  Thomas  G.,  Shumway,  111. 
Edwards,  John  A.  L.,  Edgewood,  111. 
Ervin,  Verna,  Louisville,  111. 
Edmunds,  George,  Alma,  111. 
Ensign,  Otis  L. ,  Altamont,  111. 
Faucher,  Charles  B.,  Altamont,  111. 
Gehl,  Nicholas  A.,  Casey,  111. 
Gosslee,  Paul,  Effingham,  111. 
Gossett,  Jess  A.,  Casey,  111.  •  . 

Gossett,  Robert  A.,  Casey,  111. 
Hall,  William,  Watson,  111. 
Harris,  George  W. ,  Effiingham,  111. 
Harvey,  George  E.,  Effingham,  111. 
Hall,  William,  Watson,  111. 
Harris,  George  W. ,  Effingham,  111. 
Harvey,  George  E. ,  Effingham,  111. 
Hill,  Homer  H.,  Mason,  111. 
Hilton,  James  M.,  Montrose,  111. 
Hunter,  Walter  E.,  Effingham,  111. 
Hutchings,  Joseph  A.,  Effingham,  111. 
Hastings,  Joseph,  Effingham,  111. 
Hanawalt,  John  O. ,  Effingham,  111. 
Headier,  Alfred  R.,  Alma,  111. 
Headlee,  Myron  C. ,  Alma,  111. 
Ingram,  Isaac  D.,  Brubaker,  111. 
Kcester,  George,  Effingham,  111. 
Loy,  Elam  S.,  Watson,  111. 
Liechty,  John,  Effingham,    111. 
Mason,  Arthur  L. ,  Watson,  111. 
McNeil,  Samuel  H.  H.,  Alma,  111. 
McNeil,  John  R.,  Alma,  111. 
Needham,  William  G.,  Montrose,  111. 


112  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Needham,  Oscar,  Montrose,  111. 
Newbanks,  Wade  F. ,  Effingham,  111. 
O'Connell,  Daniel  J.,  Effingham,  111. 
Overbeck,  Frank  B.,   Effingham,   111. 
Padgett,  George  E.,   Effingham,   111. 
Pifer,  Theodore  E.,  Altamont,  111. 
Hoe,  Alfred  L. ,  Effingham,   111. 
Poor,  William  W.,  Effingham,   111. 
Record,  Walter  H.,  Watson,   111. 
Ross,  Andrew  I.,  Alma,   111. 
Roberts,   Lewis  H.,  Effingham,  111. 
Robertson,   George  C.,   Effingham,   111. 
Richardson,  Richard,  Louisville,  111. 
Richardson,  Thomas,   Louisville,  111. 
Sale,   Junius  A.,   Effingham,   111. 
Scott,  Lennie  R. ,   Montrose,   111. 
Shenefield,  Martin,   Altamont,  111. 
Schilling,  Charles  M.,  Altamont,  111. 
Smith,  John  M.,  Effingham,  111. 
Smith,   Irwin  W. ,   Farina,   111. 
Sprinkle,  William  J.,   Watson,    111. 
Starner,  Clarence  G. ,   Effingham,  111. 
Shreffler,  Arthur,  Alma,  111. 
Thompson,  Arthur,  Shumway,  111. 
Titzell,  Harry  E.,   Farina,  111. 
Upton,  Daniel  N. ,   Effingham,  111. 
Vaughn,  William  T. 
Walker,  John  H.,   Altamont,  111. 
Wallace,-  Byron,  Effingham,  111. 
Welker,  John  F. ,   Avena,   111. 
Williams,  Otho  S.,   Effingham,   111. 
Williams,   Kirk  A.,   Alma,  111. 
Wood,   William  L,   Watson,    111. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  I  I  3 

E.   P.  CLAYTON. 

Lieutenant  E.  P.  Clayton  was  born  in  Farina,  Illinois, 
December  29,  1867,  moved  with  his  parents  to  Vandalia. 
in  1871,  where  he  still  resides.  In  1886,  he  joined  the: 
Illinois  National  Guard,  casting  his  lot  in  with  Company  I,, 
of  his  adopted  city,  and  in  1890,  was  appointed  corporal. 
In  1892,  he  was  elected  first  lieutenant  of  the  company, 
which  rank  he  held  until  in  1893,  when  he  resigned,  andr 
gave  himself  up  entirely  to  civilian  life  .for  about  one  year. 
But  his  military  spirit  was  only  dormant,  for  when  in  1894, 
the  great  railroad  strike  at  Mounds,  Illinois,  gave  occasion 
for  the  Governor  to  call  out  the  Illinois  National  Guard, 
he  revolunteered  and  was  appointed  first  sergeant,  which 
position  he  filled  until  July  17,  1897,  when  he  was  by  the 
vote  of  his  comrades  again  called  to  the  position  of  first 
lieutenant. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  war  between  our  nation  andl 
that  of  Spain,  he,  with  Company  I,  promptly  reported  for 
duty  at  the  capitol  of  our  state,  on  April  26,  1898,  andl 
with  it  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  Volunteer 
service,  on  the  2Oth  day  of  May  following.  Was  appointed 
ordnance  officer,  on  the  I7th  of  August,  and  also  filled  the 
position  of  regimental  adjutant  most  of  the  time  until 
December  21,  when  he  was  relieved  from  duty  in  both  po- 
sitions, to  allow  of  his  complying  with  special  order  No. 
175  Head  Quarters  first  division  seventh  army  corps  by 
which  he  was  appointed  provost  marshal  of  first  division 
seventh  army  corps,  which  position  he  filled  until  relieved 
by  special  order  No.  72  Head  Quarters  seventh  army 
corps  dated  at  Havana,  Cuba,  April  3,  1899,  that  he  might 
return  to  his  regiment  in  view  of  its  leaving  for  the  States 
on  that  date. 

On   arriving  at  Augusta,   Georgia,   he  was    placed  in 


I  14  HISTORY    OF    THE 

charge  of  a  detail  of  sixty  men  to  do  provost  guard  duty 
in  that  city,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  mustered 
out  on  the  2d  of  May,  1899. 

Lieutenant  Clayton  seems  to  have  felt  the  importance 
of  that  truth  so  tersely  stated  in  Holy  Writ,  viz:  "  It  is  not 
good  that  man  should  live  alone."  Hence  he  accordingly 
took  to  himself  a  helpmate  in  the  person  of  Miss  Anna 
Gerche  on  October  8,  1893,  and  is  now  the  happy  parent 
of  a  daughter  born  to  them  June  6,  1895. 


COMPANY  I. 


Company  "  I  "  was  mustered  into  service  in  June,  1 884. 
Their  first  captain  being  Jerome  G.  Wills  with  H.  J.  Gouch- 
neour  and  Benjamin  Martin  as  lieutenants.  Captain  Wills 
served  one  year  and  was  succeeded  by  Capt.  J.  B.  Wash- 
burn  August  15,  1885,  who  remained  with  the  company 
until  April  12,  1887,  when  he  resigned,  and  remained 
out  of  the  company  until  February,  1888,  when  he  was 
again  elected  captain  and  remained  as  their  commander 
until  elected  lieutenant-colonel  in  1892.  Capt.  George 
Andrews  was  then  elected  as  captain  and  resigned  in  May, 
1884,  when  Capt.  S.  S.  Houston  was  elected  and  served  up 
to  the  present  time,  and  through  the  Spanish  war.  Company 
"  I  "  did  duty  in  almost  every  railroad  and  coal  miner  strike 
since  1 884.  Were  at  East  St.  Louis,  Chicago,  Cairo,  Cen- 
tralia  and  several  coal  mine  strikes  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  state. 

The  days  immediately  preceding  the  26th  of  April,  1898, 
while  our  nation  was  waiting  in  breathless  suspense  for  the 
war  drums,  alarm,  were  hours  of  anxiety  for  the  mothers, 
fathers,  brothers  and  sisters  and  friends  of  the  members  of 
Company  I,  and  of  doubt,  debate  and  excited  enthusiasm 
among  the  boys.  Hour  after  hour  the  ears  were  strained 
to  catch  the  peals  of  the  fire  bell,  and  night  after  night  was 
passed  in  restless  slumber.  When  at  last  the  tocsin 
sounded,  the  boys  responded  in  eager  hurry  and  enthusiasm. 
Amid  scenes  of  intense  excitement  they  gathered  at  the 
Armory,  and  with  nervous,  trembling  hands,  prepared  their 
accoutrements,  in  readiness  for  instant  departure.  Mean- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  1 1/ 

time  the  news  had  gone  through  the  surrounding  country 
and  towns.  Like  the  Revolutionary  fathers  of  old,  the 
people  forsook  the  plow  in  the  furrow  and  gathered  at  the 
point  of  central  interest  in  the  city  of  Vandalia.  When  the 
boys  were  ready  to  move  a  tremendous  crowd  was  in  attend- 
ance from  the  country  and  neighboring  towns,  to  bid  them 
God-speed  and  wish  them  a  safe  return.  A  most  eloquent 
and  patriotic  as  well  as  hopeful  address  was  delivered  by 
Hon.  J.  J.  Brown,  which  aroused  the  patriotism  and  enthu- 
siasm of  his  auditors  to  a  high  degree.  Other  excellent 
speeches  were  delivered  by  several  citizens. 

At  last,  after  bidding  relatives,  family  and  friends  a 
fond  farewell,  the  boys  marched  proudly  away  to  the 
station  and  aboard  the  cars  amid  the  cheers  and  tears  of 
the  assembled  thousands.  On  the  way  to  Springfield  they 
were  greeted  at  the  numerous  towns  and -villages  by  exhi- 
bitions of  the  patriotic  ardor  of  their  fellow  countrymen, 
who  had  not  witnessed  such  a  scene  under  such  circum- 
stances in  a  generation  of  time. 

.  The  company  landed  in  Springfield,  on  the  the  2/th 
day  of  April,  and  marched  directly  tc  the  State  fair  grounds, 
afterwards  known  as  Camp  Tanner,  and  were  quartered  in 
a  cattle  barn  with  Company  K,  of  Litchfield,  and  Company 
D,  of  Belleville.  Now  began  a  long  siege  of  patient 
endurance,  unrelieved  by  many  incidents  of  humor,  pleas- 
ure or  comfort.  It  was  only  the  eager  expectation  with 
which  the  boys  looked  forward  to  the  period  of  action  that 
made  the  weeks  from  the  2/th  of  April  to  the  2Oth  of  May 
endurable. 

Companies  K,  I  and  D  were  a  little  more  than  ordi- 
narily unfortunate  in  being  so  crowded.  The  room  in  the 
barn  was  not  adequate  for  the  accommodation  of  so  many 
men.  We  slept  six  in  a  stall,  with  sometimes  one  or  two 
crowded  at  the  feet  of  the  other  men.  It  is  doubtful  if  so 


Il8  HISTORY    OF    THE 

many  animals  were  ever  before  crowded  into  those  stalls, 
and  we  believe  there  never  will  be  again,  for  if  the  humane 
society  is  seized  with  the  "expansion"  fever,  it  may  hover 
its  protecting  wing  over  the  soldier  animals  also.  We  here 
learned  what  it  meant  to  be  the  "pivot"  man,  with  five 
under  a  blanket,  when  we  had  the  latter  desirable  article. 
The  state  was  "short"  on  almost  everything  when  the 
troops  were  called  to  Springfield,  which  fact  made  it  neces- 
sary for  the  boys  to  call  upon  the  folks  at  home  for  necessary 
bedding.  Company  I  did  not  call  upon  its  friends  in  Van- 
dalia  in  vain.  The  wants  of  the  boys  were  no  sooner  known 
than  they  were  promptly  and  abundantly  fulfilled,  and  soon 
the  boys  were  in  possession  of  a  generous  supply  of  blankets, 
quilts  and  comforts.  An  almost  criminal  disregard  of  the 
needs  and  health  of  the  troops  was  shown  by  the  state 
administration  in  failing  to  provide  even  the  necessities  in 
anything  like  a  sufficient  manner. 

We  were  about  as  short  on  "grub"  as  on  bedding. 
The  first  few  days  the  ration  consisted  mostly  of  steak 
broiled  over  the  fire  and  black  coffee  and  some  very  fair 
bread.  I  said  coffee.  We  always  doubted  its  being  genu- 
ine, and  suspicioned  that  it  was  doctored  in  a  manner  and 
for  the  purpose  of  conducing  toward  the  order  of  Spring- 
field. Much  indignation  was  felt  among  the  boys  at  the 
attempts  of  the  Springfield  people  to  secure  the  mustering 
out  of  the  troops  in  that  city,  despite  the  benefits  of  travel 
pay  the  boys  might  receive.  Their  zeal  is  not  surprising 
when  it  is  understood  that  retail  dealers  could  buy  coffee 
in  one-hundred-pound  lots  for  eight  cents  less  per  pound 
than  could  the  state  of  Illinois  of  Springfield  dealers  in 
amounts  of  one  ton. 

As  to  the  beef,  well,  it  had  evidently  seen  "service." 
"Goodie"  one  of  our  most  prolific  wits,  used  to  say  that 
you  couldn't  stick  a  fork  into  the  gravy.  The  potatoes  had 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  I  19 

been  through  the  "flood,"  while  the  rice — victim  of  the 
cooks — rattled  as  it  went  its  course. 

Despite  these  unpleasantries  there  was  nothing  but 
good  humored  criticism  of  the  arrangements  and  fare.  We 
were  all  too  eager  to  see  service  and  too  much  excited  as 
well  as  inexperienced  to  appreciate  the  culpable  negligence 
of  the  state  authorities.  It  is  proper  to  say  here  that  our 
condition  was  much  better  than  that  of  the  cavalrymen 
and  the  Seventh  infantrymen. 

Company  I  made  rapid  progress  in  military  efficiency 
under  its  excellent  officers.  On  the  guard  lines  the  com- 
pany was  "stiff,"  or  accommodating  just  as  circum- 
stances demanded.  It  contained  a  set  of  fellows  capable 
of  understanding  and  appreciating  situations  and  acting 
with  original,  independent  judgment  when  instructions  did 
not  "  fit  the  case. "  As  an  instance  of  this  Gov.  Tanner 
was  one  night  halted  by  Si  Bullington.  In  answer  to  the 
challange  the  governor  replied,  Governor  Tanner,  and 
started  across,  but  Si  again  halted  him.  "Why,"  said  the 
governor,  "  its  all  right,  I'm  Governor  Tanner,  I'm  in  com- 
mand here."  But  Si  stuck  to  his  instructions  as  close  as 
the  Yankee  peace  commissioners  did  in  the  terms  of  the 
protocol.  "But,  my  boy,"  said  the  governor,  "  I'm  Gov- 
ernor Tanner."  "  I  don't  give  a  cuss,"  said  Si,  "  if  you're 
the  shade  of  Julius  Caesar,  you  can't  get  across  this  post." 
The  governor  chuckled  and  moved  on.  But,  if  in  reply  to 
the  challange,  "  friend  with  a  bottle"  was  given,  few  Com- 
pany I  men  had  the  heart  to  keep  a  brother  .out.  There 
was  a  hole  on  the  west  side  well  known  and  remembered 
by  all  Company  I  men.  That  hole  was  a  literal  bonanza 
to  the  sentinel  who  was  lucky  enough  to  possess  it  and  a 
boon  friend  of  the  adventurous,  fun-loving  boys,  who  liked 
Springfield  society.  Well  sheltered,  in  the  hollow  by- 
trees,  on  two  sides,  it  was  comparatively  secure  from  the 


I2O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

observation  of  over  curious  officers.  Here  Walt  Pollard 
was  stationed  one  evening,  about  sundown,  just  at  the  time 
the  "noctural  animals  "  began  to  prowl.  Walt,  as  is  well 
known,  has  a  capacious  and  a  varied  appetite.  As  pies, 
cakes,  cookies,  candy,  cigars  and  other  stuff  was  acceptable 
to  him  he  did  a  good  business.  Nearly  four  regiments  of 
soldiers  stole  furtively  through  that  hole.  The  camp 
looked  about  as  deserted  as  a  church  house  during  a  week- 
day prayer  meeting,  while  Springfield  was  hilarious. 
Walter  was  enterprising  and  expressed  a  desire  to  take  that 
hole  south  with  him.  All  were  sorry  that  he  could  not  get 
the  "consent  of  the  officers"  for  Walter's  generosity  was 
abounding.  We  felt  quite  sure  that  he  would  have  loaned 
it  to  us  to  go  on  guard  with  in  return  for  a  "  pretty  rifle  " 
during  guard  mounting. 

But,  for  military  form  we  (sometimes)  had  a  strict 
regard.  As  guard  mount  was  in  the  evening  we  were  in- 
structed to  halt  all  persons  seen  on  or  near  our  posts  during 
the  night.  Nothing  was  said  about  proceedings  in  day- 
light. So  when  day  arrived  we  still  adhered  rigidly  to  our 
instructions  and  halted  everything  in  sight.  We  could  see 
guard  relief  coming  when  it  was  still  a  half  mile  away. 
But  if  we  had  been  sitting  or  reclining,  on  its  appearance 
we  calmly  resumed  pacing  our  posts.  When  we  thought 
it  was  about  the  regulation  distance  away  we  were  sud- 
denly startled — wheel  quickly  about,  bring  our  rifles  to  a 
charge  bayonets  and  shout,  in  stentorian  tones,  "Halt! 
who's  there?  answer,  "  Corporal  with  the  Relief. "  "Ad- 
vance! Corporal  of  the  Relief,  and  be  recognized."  Talk 
about  red  tape!  and  strange  to  say  no  "  He  of  the  shoulder 
straps  "  corrected  us.  Nevertheless  on  the  several  dress 
parade  reviews  and  on  the  Sunday  inspection  of  Governor 
Tanner,  Company  I  acquitted  itself  well,  demonstrating  that 
it  was  second  to  no  company  in  the  regiment,  and  deserved 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  121 

the  honor  of  carrying  the  regimental  colors  which  it  had 
won  at  the  previous  annual  encampment  for  its  superiority 
as  a  military  organization. 

Lewis  Brown  was  the  first  company  barber.  That  is 
a  fact  not  difficult  to  remember.  It  is  one  of  the  first  that 
occurs  to  one  who  attempts  to  narrate  the  history  of  the 
company.  It  is,  however,  a  painful  recollection  reminding 
one  forcibly  of  the  proceeding  of  the  Indian  squaws  in 
pulling  the  hair  out  of  the  heads  of  white  men  whom  the 
tribe  adopts,  Lewis  after  his  own  fashion  converted  us  to 
red  brothers.  He  began  operation  in  Springfield  nor  ceased 
till  we  were  mustered  out.  He  became,  however,  a  very 
creditable  hand  with  the  razor. 

These  are  the  principal  incidents  up  to  the  time  of 
muster  in.  On  the  physicial  examination  Company  I  was 
specially  unfortunate.  It  lost  more  men  than  any  other  in 
the  regiment — in  all  twenty-one.  This  reduced  the  num- 
ber below  the  necessary  limit.  The  deficit  was  made  up 
with  men  drawn  from  the  surplus  of  other  companies. 
The  disappointment  of  the  rejected  men  was  keen  and  dis- 
tressing. Several  of  them  shed  tears  when  they  left  the 
grounds  to  return  home.  Some  of  them  afterward  suc- 
ceeded in  enlisting  when  the  companies  were  recruited  up 
to  one  hundred  and  nine  men,  and  lived  to  repent  their 
folly  as  they  called  it.  Considering  the  humble  duty  per- 
formed by  our  company,  and  its  limited  field  of  operations, 
and  the  seeming  greedless  sacrifice  of  its  members,  it  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at  that  some,  forgetting  the  conditions  pre- 
vailing at  the  time  of  their  enlistment,  cursed  themselves 
for  fools.  Some  civilians,  forgetting  likewise,  were  dis- 
posed to  look  with  a  sort  of  patronizing  pity  for  the  mind 
on  him  who  was  patriotic  enough  to  forsake  the  pursuit  of 
money  getting,  and  offer  his  life  and  liberty  for  the  cause 
of  humanity  at  his  country's  call.  Not  long  after  returning 


122  HISTORY    OF    THE 

home  this  spring  a  young  lady  stated  that  while  a  great 
many  very  good  kind  of  fellows  had  enlisted  what  they 
called,  at  home,  THE  boys,  that  is,  the  upper  crust  (I  sup- 
pose these  were  sons  of  well-to-do  fathers,  who  had  climbed 
to  the  top  from  the  bottom  of  the  ladder  by  hard  work — 
the  respectable  lads  of  leisure  who  dress  in  fine  clothes,  part 
their  hair  in  the  middle,  go  away  to  college,  take  the  girls 
buggy-riding  and  to  the  dances,  tip  their  hats  to  the  old 
ladies,  turn  up  their  dainty  smellers  at  the  laboring  man, 
and  who  never  earned  a  dollar  in  their  lives)  had  not  gone 
to  the  front.  I  replied,  "  When  a  fellow  gets  too  infernally 
nice  to  fight  for  his  country,  he  had  better  be  shot  or  put 
in  an  asylum  for  the  helpless  and  feeble,  for  he  is  abso- 
lutely a  burden  to  society." 

Let  it  be  remembered  that  it  was  predicted  that  our 
armies  would  meet  with  disaster  on  land  and  sea  in  the  first 
engagements;  that  the  attitude  of  Germany,  France,  Rus- 
sia and  other  great  powers  was  in  doubt;  that  some  even 
predicted  that  a  foreign  foe  would  land  on  our  shores;  that 
our  brilliant  series  of  unbroken  victories  was  entirely 
unforeseen  and  unexpected,  and  that  a  bloody  struggle  was 
expected  by  all. 

When  we  look  back  at  contemporary  conditions  we 
can  better  understand  the  wisdom  and  the  lofty  patriotism 
that  inspired  men  to  enlist.  They  weren't  excited  fools, 
by  any  means.  This  is  a  pardonable  digression,  I  believe, 
since  the  soldiers  have  been  the  victims  of  their  own  cen- 
sure and  the  patronizing  pity  of  others  who  also  forgot  the 
conditions  which  prompted  the  boys  to  take  the  step  they 
did,  and  despite  many  declarations  to  the  contrary,  I 
firmly  believe  that  if  a  call  were  to  be  made  to-day,  that 
every  soldier  in  the  late  war  would  promptly  enlist,  if  con- 
vinced that  his  services  were  needed. 

On  the  failure  of  many  to  pass  the  examination,  de- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  123 

pended  the  opportunity  of  others  of  us  to  get  into  the 
service.  Their  misfortune  was  our  blessing.  "It's  an  ill 
wind  that  blows  nobody  good."  We  have  cause  to  this 
day  to  congratulate  ourselves  on  having  been  associated 
with  such  an  agreeable,  intelligent,  sociable  and  manly  set 
of  fellows  as  were  the  boys  of  Company  I,  and  with  such 
considerate,  gentlemanly  and  brotherly  fellows  as  our 
ofBcers.  We  are  very  thankful  that  we  were  not  com- 
pelled to  serve  under  a  set  of  supercillious,  bumptious,  over- 
bearing ignoramuses,  who  knew  nothing  in  military  science 
and  life  to  appreciate  but  their  uniforms,  who  believed 
themselves  little  Napoleons,  ready  to  spring  into  full 
flower,  and  we  untrained  paddies.  We  love  a  leader,  like 
Houston  or  Clayton,  but  a  driver  we  hate. 

Accordingly,  the  date  of  muster  in  found  us  ready  and 
eager.  It  was  a  solemn  scene,  when  on  the  2Oth  oL  May, 
1898,  we  lifted  our  right  hands  and  solemnly  swore  to 
faithfully  serve  our  country  for  two  years.  Tears  stood  in 
the  eyes  of  many  as  they  realized  the  solemnity  and  por- 
tent of  the  step  they  were  taking.  But  these  feelings  were 
soon  relieved  by  playfully  bantering  others  who  had  not 
yet  been  mustered  in — calling  them  "tin  soldiers,"  arid 
the  like,  and  referring  to  themselves  as  "  old  veterans." 

A  feeling  of  tension  existed  during  the  time  that  inter- 
vened from  the  date  of  muster  in  until  we  were  ordered  to 
proceed  to  the  front.  Deep  satisfaction  prevailed  when  we 
were  at  last  ordered  to  proceed  to  Tampa,  Florida.  The 
well  ones  ceased  their  quarrelling  and  the  "sick  ones 
stopped  crying  for  quinine  and  pills,"  and  all  busied  them- 
selves in  packing  up.  There  were  no  heart-rending  scenes 
at  our  departure.  Most  of  our  friends  had  been  to  see  and 
visit  us  in  camp.  So  that  when  we  received  our  orders  an 
air  of  strict  attention  to  plain  business  prevailed.  A  great 
many,  however,  snatched  a  few  brief  moments  to  pen  a 


124  HISTORY    OF    THE 

line  to  friends  at  home.  One  little  lady  was  faithful  to  the 
last,  however.  Roll  Suerley  was  the  envy  of  every  man 
in  the  company.  One  of  the  prettiest  little  lasses  that  it 
has  ever  been  our  lot  to  see  was  there  to  bid  him  a  last 
farewell.  He  fondly  pressed  a  farewell  kiss  on  her  ruby 
lips  as  the  train  moved  away  nor  heeded  the  taunts  of  his 
envious  comrades.  We  knew  right  then  that  Roll  would 
make  a  good  soldier.  He  had  both  courage  and  an  inspira- 
tion. 

We  marched  aboard  the  cars  at  1:15,  but  it  was  not 
until  towards  4  P.  M.  that  we  begun  to  travel  toward  the 
sunny  south  land.  Our  fellow  countrymen  unwearied  by 
many  previous  and  similar  occasions  cheered  us  on  our  way. 
At  Girard  the  ladies  of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps  met  us 
at  the  train  and  supplied  us  with  sandwiches  and  coffee. 
We  had  but  little  beside  "  boss"  and  hard  tack  to  eat  on 
our  way  down  aside  from  what  we  got  at  our  numerous 
stops  and  thus  had  occasion  to  remember  the  kindness  of 
the  ladies  with  deep  gratitude.  At  Belleville,  the  home  of 
Colonel  Andel,  the  people*  were  lavish  in  their  generous 
good  will.  They  provided  us  with  nearly  half  a  car  load 
of  good  things  but  sorry  to  say  the  enlisted  me.n  never  saw 
any  of  it.  The  officers  and  commissary  men  got  the  whole 
"cheese."  It  wasn't  the  only  occasion  when  they  seemed 
to  think  that  they  were  the  whole  army  and  the  sole  object 
of  the  praise,  admiration,  gratitude  and  beneficence  of  their 
fellow  countrymen.  But  the  good  and  generous  citizens 
of  Belleville  have  our  sincere  thanks  for  all  that. 

On  the  27th  day  of  May  we  crossed  the  Ohio  river, 
once  the  dividing  line  of  deadly  foes,  and  whose  banks  and 
bordering  forests  had  rung  to  the  echoes  of  hostile  cannon, 
and  plunged  into  the  forests  of  western  Kentucky.  Our 
journey  through  "  Dixie  "  was  fraught  with  especial  inter- 
est to  most  of  us.  Few  had  ever  before  been  south  of  the 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  12$ 

Ohio,  and  were  alive  to  study  the  soil,  climate,  industrial 
conditions  and  above  all  the  people  of  this  renowned  sec- 
tion of  our  country.  We  had  heard  much  of  them,  and 
looked  to  see  the  people  turn  from  us  with  averted  looks 
and  unfriendly  glance;  but  we  traveled  on,  and  on  meeting 
with  nothing  but  hospitable  receptions,  kindly  interest  and 
good  will,  and  by  the  time  we  reached  Jacksonville  we  con- 
cluded that  the  "South"  was  a  myth;  that  there  was  no 
"North,"  no  "South,"  but  that  the  whole  land  was  our 
own  dear  country,  with  one  "  cause,  one  flag  and  one 
heart. "  Everywhere  we  were  greeted  with  the  same  patri- 
otic enthusiasm,  generous  good  will  and  hospitality  with 
which  our  own  friends  bade  us  farewell.  At  Fulton,  Ken- 
tucky; Jackson,  Tennessee;  Holly  Springs,  Mississippi; 
Waycross,  Arnericus  and  Albany,  Georgia,  large  crowds  of 
enthusiastic  people  greeted  us.  At  the  last  named  place 
the  people  served  us  handsomely.  Cigars,  lemonade,  cof- 
fee and  sandwiches  were  provided.  Though  the  First  Bat- 
talion absorbed  most  of  the  supply,  ours  came  in  for  sub- 
stantial recognition,  although  the  citizens  expressed  regret 
of  their  ignorance  of  more  to  follow,  which  occasioned  the 
limited  supply  of  provisions.  Words  cannot  express  our 
gratitute  toward,  and  appreciation  of,  the  southern  people. 
What  we  had  heard  of  the  hospitality  of  the  south  was 
more  than  realized. 

A  number  of  us  took  occasion  to  shake  hands  with  and 
talk  to  as  many  old  Confederate  veterans  as  possible. 
When  we  told  them  that  the  gray-haired  "boys"  at  home 
sent  them  tidings  of  good  will,  tears  trickled  down  their 
furrowed,  grizzled  faces.  At  Fulton,  Kentucky,  one  large, 
fine  looking  old  soldier  questioned  me  with  "Where  you 
all  from?"  "Illinois,"  said  I,  with  pardonable  pride. 
"Well,"  said  he,  "you  ought  to  be  good  fighters  then,  for 
your  daddies  fit  us  mighty  hard."  WTe  appreciate  that 


126  HISTORY    OF    THE 

remark,  for  if  we  have  nothing  else  to  brag  about  we  can 
boast  that  we  are  the  sons  of  our  daddies — the  boys  of  '61. 

The  southern  scenery  and  industrial  conditions  inter- 
ested us  much,  particularly  the  agricultural  implements  and 
appliances.  Herman  Smith,  after  closely  studying  the 
various  styles  of  mule  harness,  remarked  that  he  guessed 
he  would  send  home  for  a  lot  of  twine  string  and  start  a 
harness  shop.  While  passing  through  one  of  the  small 
towns  on  this  trip,  Alma  Smith  was  struck  in  the  eye  by  a 
stone  thrown  by  some  unknown  person,  but  supposed  to  be 
a  "coon."  The  injury  seemed  permanent,  for  at  last 
accounts  the  sight  was  nearly  gone.  This  was  one  of  the 
most  distressing  occurrences  of  the  trip. 

We  arrived  in  Jacksonville  the  29th  of  May,  tired  and 
hungry.  Tired  of  everything,  particularly  cold  beans  and 
"canned  hoss."  One  man — private  Geo.  Cheeney — was 
laid  up  with  rheumatism  and  had  to  be  carried  from  the 
train  on  a  stretcher.  The  trouble  was  contracted  on  guard  at 
Camp  Tanner.  He  was  later  taken  to  the  division  hospital 
but  was  soon  out  again.  He  was  the  first  Company  1  man 
to  report  to  the  hospital. 

By  evening  of  the  29th  our  tents  were  up  after  much 
labor  and  tedious  inconvenience  in  procuring  them.  We 
were  soon  ready  for  business  and  found  that  it  wasn't  going 
to  be  long  in  coming  our  way  and  wearing  a  most  serious 
aspect.  We  had  not  then  heard  of  Gen.  W.  H.  Bancroft, 
but  it  wasn't  long  'til  we  thought  nothing  for  even  a 
moment  of  any  other  man  in  the  United  States.  The  gen- 
eral was  soon  the  subject  of  general  thought  and  conversa- 
tion. He  haunted  our  thoughts  by  day  and  our  dreams  by 
night. 

In  common  with  many  others  we  thought  we  had  lit- 
tle to  learn,  but  under  the  critical,  efficient  hand  of  General 
Bancroft  we  soon  found  that  we  didn't  even  know  when, 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  I2/ 

where  and  how  to  salute.  In  coming  from  the  hydrant 
with  a  bucket  of  water  one  morning  "Tubby"  Aderholt 
neglected  that  important  function  in  acknowledging  the 
early  morning  presence  of  the  general,  whereupon  the  lat- 
ter promptly  halted  him,  commanded  him  to  drop  his 
bucket,  salute  and  keep  his  hand  going  in  pump  handle 
fashion  for  ten  minutes.  After  that  if  the  General  was 
within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  Tubby  kept  his  weather  eye  on 
him  and  saluted  if  he  even  looked  in  Tubby's  direction. 

The  General  also  had  an  eye  for  martial  bearing  and 
appearance,  as  Ira  Snyder  found  to  his  chagrin.  The  Gen- 
eral once  commanded  him  to  stand  "straight"  in  line. 

John  Ira  did  his  best  but  did  not  satisfy  the  critical  eye 
of  the  officer.  Said  he,  after  several  vain  attempts  by  Ira, 
"  are  you  knock-kneed?"  "  Slightly, "  said  John  Ira.  The 
General  was  no  less  a  stickler  for  punctuality  than  for  other 
important  details.  The  officers  and  men  of  Company  I 
will  not  soon  forget  the  row  he  raised  over  a  five  minute 
delay  in  getting  breakfast,  due  to  a  failure  of  the  cook- 
shack  guard  to  awaken  the  relief.  But  we  all  learned  to 
appreciate  and  respect  General  Bancroft.  He  was  the 
making  of  the  regiment. 

When  we  first  went  to  Jacksonville  some  alarm  was 
felt  over  the  presence  of  prowling  Spanish  assassins  said  by 
the  sensation-loving  press  to  be  in  the  country,  waylaying 
soldiers  on  the  guard  lines,  poisoning  drinking  water,  etc. 
' '  Goodie  "  Griffith,  in  wandering  about  the  guard  lines,  acci- 
dently  stumbled  onto  Cliff  Sweet.  Cliff — new  at  the  busi- 
ness— was  greatly  alarmed.  He  gave  the  challenge  in 
trembling  accents,  sighed  deeply  when  the  answer  was  given, 
and  answered  in  a  relieved  tone  of  pleasant  surprise,  "  Oh! 
is  that  you,  Goodie?" 

Before  long  we  had  abundant  opportunity  to  work  off 
our  nervousness  on  the  stump  patches  which  were  entirely 


128  HISTORY    OF    THE 

too  numerous  to  permit  any  indulgence  of  ideas  of  soldierly 
leisure.  Anyhow  the  "  Florida  Sand  and  Improvement 
Co."  proved  a  blessing  to  Florida.  The  labor  we  boys  ex- 
pended on  stumps  and  ditches,  and  the  money  we  left  in 
Jacksonville  so  far  improved  conditions  that  a  great  number 
of  dwelling  houses  are  going  up  on  the  site  of  our  old  camp 
ground.  We  suppose  the  owners  of  these  sites  got  the 
work  done  at  greatly  reduced  rates.  We  understood  that 
"nigger"  labor  in  the  long  run  wasn't  cheap,  which  fact 
prevented  a  rapid  development  of  resources. 

The  sergeants  and  corporals  thought  that  those  were 
the  "  times  that  tried  men's  souls. "  They  could  scarcely 
ever  finish  a  job  without  going  two  or  three  times  down  the 
line  to  rustle  up  the  detail  which  had  gradually  evaporated 
under  the  hot  sun,  on  the  pretext  of  getting  drinks  or  at- 
tending to  other  very  imperative  duties.  (Boys,  you  know 
what.)  The  boys  soon  had  many  friends  among  the  ladies 
of  Jacksonville.  So  deep  were  some  of  the  ties  and  so 
vivid  some  of  their  tender  experiences,  that  memory  will  be 
annihilated  ere  they  cease  to  remember  with  mixed  emo- 
tions their  fair  friends  of  the  sunny  sands  of  Florida.  So 
great  was  the  fascination  these  southern  dames  exercised 
over  the  Yankee  boys  that  the  risks  run  by  the  gallant  boys 
in  getting  across  the  guard  lines  were  amazing.  One  of 
the  most  dauntless  of  these  devoted  gallants  was  Thomas 
F.  Pantry.  It  would  have  taken  triple  guard  lines,  and 
three  lines  of  yelping  terriers  and  three  of  bull  dogs  to  keep' 
intrepid  Tom  in  camp  when  the  spirit  of  the  "divine  pas- 
sion "  animated  him.  Consequently  Tom  had  the  privilege 
of  lying  in  the  guard  house  and  indulging  in  day  dreams  of 
his  lady  love,  or  philosophizing  on  the, wisdom  of  his  action 
as  he  cut  poles  or  built  bridges  as  an  extra  duty  man.  Tom 
was  very  popular  with  Sergeant  Adams  in  the  latter  capac- 
ity 'til  his  ardor  begun  to  cool,  as  the  result  of  much  trial 


FOURTH  ILLINOIS,  129 

and  tribulation.  Tom  could  give  most  of  the  boys  pointers 
on  night  skirmishing  tactics  if  he  couldn't  on  those  in  the 
drill  regulations.  Tom,  however,  had  the  gift  of  original- 
ity. He  used  to  undress,  go  to  bed  and  apparently  to  sleep 
in  order  to  deceive  his  eagle-eyed  duty-devoted  corporal, 
Charles  Smith.  After  the  others  had  begun  to  snore,  wily 
Tom  would  lift  the  flap  of  the  tent,  roll  out  on  the  ground, 
dress  and  hie  himself  away  to  his  waiting  lady  love.  The 
stumps  were  a  great  obstacle  to  safe  running  after  night. 
So  Tom,  one  day,  surveyed  a  route  through  the  stumps  for 
the  night  run.  But  "  the  best  laid  plans  of  mice  and  men 
gang  aft  a  glee."  That  night  a  double  guard  line  was  on. 
He  passed  the  first  line  in  safety  by  dint  of  crawling  about 
•one  hundred  yards  on  each  side  of  the  line.  But  a  double 
guard  was  on.  Just  as  Tom  was  congratulating  himself, 
up  rose  the  shadowy  form  of  a  sentinel.  That  made  Tom 
eager  and  enthusiastic  for  a  foot  race.  He  touched  his- 
shank  poraies  into  a  gallop  and  with  much  confidence  dashed 
down  the  premeditated  path.  "  Pride  goeth  before  a  fall." 
The  guard  headed  him  off.  He  bobbed  in  and  out  among 
the  stumps  like  a  scared  rabbit,  but  soon  came  in  contact 
with  a  gigantic  stump  which  brought  him  to  earth  with 
rather  a  sudden  stop  and  huge  grunt.  The  guard  hauled 
him  in  promptly.  After  this  experience  the  gallant  Tom 
concluded  that  it  was  useless  to  expend  any  effort  in  laying 
plans  since  extemporaneous  ones  were  as  good  as  any  in 
a  stump  patch.  He  would  have  grubbed  stumps  with 
alacrity  and  pleasure  in  the  right  place  after  that. 

The  liveliest  skirmish  in  which  any  of  us  ever  partici- 
pated occurred  when  the  graybacks  struck  camp.  When 
it  was  first  rumored  that  the  old  confederate  seam  squirrel 
had  invaded  our  quarters,  a  small  panic  seized  many. 
Lively  hunts  at  once  ensued.  It  was  amusing  to  see  the 
rigorous,  drastic  measures  to  which  the  boys  resorted  in 

9 


130  HISTORY   OF    THE 

order  to  get  rid  of  them.  Salt,  vinegar,  kerosene  and 
^everything  that  would  kill  a  louse  were  put  into  huge  cal- 
drons of  boiling  water  and  his  louseship  treated  to  the 
first,  last  and  only  bath  of  his  life.  The  first  victims  felt 
considerably  mortified  and  humiliated  but  we  gradually  be- 
came reconciled  to  our  unavoidable  circumstances  and 
derived  consolation  from  the  knowledge  that  all  good  sol- 
diers had  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  graybacks.  But 
it  was  a  credit  to  the  boys  the  way  they  fought  the  pests 
and  gallantly  contended  with  them  for  the  undisputed  pos- 
session of  every  square  inch  of  their  soil  of  which  we  kept 
always  a  good  supply  in  Jacksonville.  But%  the  boys  did 
not  like  to  be  reminded  in  a  public  way  of  the  presence  of 
these  little  would-be  comrades  of  the  soldier  boys.  The 
editor  of  the  Jacksonville  Times  Union  and  Citizen  told 
them  about  it  once  and  ate  his  words  the  next  day  to  save 
his  measly  skin  and  his  office  from  the  hands  of  the  angry 
boys.  The  devil  take  Jacksonville  is  the  earnest  prayer  of 
every  good  soldier  of  Company  I.  There  was  an  abund- 
ance of  dirt,  a  paucity  of  bath  tubs  and  a  good  supply  of 
scheming  sharks.  The  merchants  could  give  pointers  to 
any  traveling  fake  that  ever  lifted  his  voice  in  behalf  of 
brass  goods  and  cheap  shoddy. 

While  it  only  fell  to  the  lot  of  Company  I  to  pursue  a 
very  sober  and  humble  path  of  duty,  yet  its  career  was  not 
devoid  of  incidents  perhaps  trifling  in  themselves  yet  of 
considerable  interest  and  excitement  to  the  boys  at  the 
time  of  their  occurrence,  particularly  to  those  who  partici- 
pated in  them.  Those  who  assisted  at  different  times  to 
vary  the  monotony  were  Wm.  T.  Bailey  and-Herman  Smith, 
when  they  one  morning  came  to  blows  over  a  can  of  milk. 
But  few  blows  were  passed,  yet  they  were  cool  and  earnest. 
James  McLaren  and  Ed  Fellwock  also  furnished  us  a  lively 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  I$I 

scene  one  evening,  as  did  also  Mabry  and  Benjamin  Sun- 
day. 

Another  morning,  immediately  on  return  from  drill,  we 
were  excited  by  the  report  that  a  Company  I  man  had  shot 
himself.  It  proved  that  Alma  Smith  while  "  fooling"  with 
a  pistol  that  was  loaded  accidentally  fired  a  ball  through 
the  calf  of  his  leg.  (The bullet  wounded  two  calves.)  The 
wound  was  quite  painful  but  not  serious.  After  a  few 
weeks  on  crutches,  he  was  as  fit  as  ever.  This  was  the 
only  Company  I  man  wounded  by  a  bullet  during  the  whole 
Spanish-American  war.  Other  companies  can,  however, 
show  a  better  record  than  this.  The  crutches  involved  the 
temporary  possessor  in  a  skirmish  over  the  right  to  a  cer- 
tain portion  of  the  tent  with  private  Geo.  Cheeney.  The 
dispute  became  so  serious  that  the  crutches  for  a  time 
threatened  to  take  action  in  the  matter.  The  question  was 
finally  referred  the  captain,  who  settled  it  in  a  very  decisive 
way  by  consigning  the  sticks  to  the  top  of  the  mess  shack, 
where  there  was  an  abundance  of  room.  Quarrels  sometimes 
make  better  friends,  as  this  occurrence  served  to  demon- 
strate. We  never  heard,  however,  whether  Mabry  and 
Sunday  ever  became  good  friends  or  not.  Mabry  was  as 
devilish  a  tease  as  ever  walked  on  two  legs.  He  used  to 
be  a  thorn  in  Ben's  side,  constantly  irritating  and  provoking 
him.  They  had  enough  squabbles  to  make  them  as  loving 
and  tender  as  brothers,  but  no  one  ever  discovered  anything 
' '  soft  "  about  ' '  Mab, "  although  a  better  fellow  to  his  friends 
didn't  exist.  The  way  he  worked  a  certain  lieutenant  was 
a  matter  of  considerable  amusement.  He  showed  himself 
to  be  a  good  judge  of  human  nature  and  an  expert  in  blar- 
neying. 

About  the  most  exciting  incident  that  befell  us  was 
while  on  provost  in  Fairfield.  The  event  occurred  at 
Flynn's  saloon,  while  under  the  guardianship  of  Corp.  John 


132  HISTORY    OF   THE 

D.  Haughawout,  in  charge  of  a  detail  of  three  men  com- 
posed of  Tom  Branman,  and  Geo.  Cheeney.  While 

the  last  named  was  on  guard  in  front  of  the  store  a  negro 
came  up  the  street  reporting  that  a  soldier  had  attacked 
him,  drawing  a  pistol.  The  corporal  was  notified  and  the 
two  men  proceeded  down  the  street  to  look  for  the  bellig- 
erant  soldier.  The  negro  was  also  along  for  the  purpose 
of  identifying  him.  They  soon  came  across  three  soldiers 
proceeding  toward  the  saloon.  Before  getting  close  enough 
for  identification,  as  it  was  quite  dark,  the  negro  charged 
that  one  of  the  soldiers  was  the  one  that  had  assaulted  and 
attempted  to  rob  him.  Being  a  southerner  the  soldier 
wasn't  inclined  to  tolerate  any  such  unfounded  charge,  par- 
ticularly as  he  had  imbibed  a  little  too  freely.  So  he 
started  for  Mr.  "Coon."  We  interposed  and  succeeded 
in  getting  him  quiet  and  starting  them  for  camp.  When 
they  got  to  the  saloon,  however,  they  stopped  for  another 
drink,  an  eye  closer,  I  suppose.  The  "coon"  followed 
them  in  and  renewed  the  charge.  The  soldier  and  his  com- 
rades had  by  this  time  taken  on  too  much  to  remain  calm. 
So  they  declared  their  willingness  to  fight  anybody  and 
everything,  while  protesting  earnestly  that  they  weren't 
looking  for  trouble.  They  very  dramatically  threw  off  their 
hats,  shirts  and  started  to  remove  their  trousers  also,  all 
the  while  eloquently,  if  not  elegantly,  declaiming  on  the 
injustice  done  them  and  their  chivalrous  desire  and  inten- 
tion to  annihilate  the  whole  darkey  population.  Mean- 
time the  news  spread  through  the  negro  quarter  and  soon 
about  fifty  or  sixty  sable  gentlemen  were  on  the  scene  bent 
on  the  protection  of  their  dusky  brother  and  were  armed 
with  canes,  some  of  which  could  hardly  have  been  designed 
merely  for  walking  sticks.  One  drew  a  pistol,  but  was  im- 
mediately arrested,  but  released  on  promise  of  good  behav- 
ior. Meantime  the  situation  was  growing  worse,  negroes 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  133 

were  rapidly  gathering  from  all  directions,  while  the  excited 
boys  were  growing  more  and  more  quarrelsome.  We  were 
threatened  with  "coons  "  on  one  side  and  with  drunk  and 
enraged  soldiers  on  the  other.  We  finally  cleared  the  bar- 
room of  the  offending  presence  of  the  darkeys,  induced  the 
belligerents  to  rehabilitate  themselves  and  started  them  for 
camp.  We  afterward  heard  that  they  were  followed  and 
fired  upon  by  a  negro,  presumably  the  one  who  was  so  of- 
fensively aggressive.  While  this  scene  was  transpiring,  an 
individual  laboring  under  considerable  excitement,  partly 
artificial,  had  burst  in  on  our  camp  with  an  excited  story  of 
the  gravity  of  the  situation.  A  large  detail  was  quickly 
fallen  in  and  doubled-quicked  to  our  rescue.  When  it  ar- 
rived all  was  "quiet  on  the  Potomac." 

This  saloon  was  the  scene  of  more  trouble  than  al- 
most all  the  rest  of  the  district  included.  It  was  a  cheap 
grog  shop  and  grocery  store  combined,  where  the  lowest 
quality  of  "  rot  gut  "  was  dispensed  to  the  colored  patrons. 
Bad  whisky  and  bad  "  niggers  "  are  a  dangerous  combina- 
tion to  any  community. 

At  another  time,  while  on  guard  there,  a  North  Caro- 
linian came  in  with  a  badly  injured  head,  the  result  of  a 
contact  with  a  beer  bottle  in  the  hand  of  a  colored 
"heeler."  He  seemed  to  be  seriously  hurt,  and  suffered 
great  pain.  His  subsequent  fate  we  did  not  learn. 

George  W.  Cheeney  was  also  a  participant  in  another 
row  with  a  Texan,  on  board  a  street  car.  The  latter  was 
"tipsy,"  and  became  quite  profane  and  obscene  in  his 
language,  which  was  very  offensive  to  the  ladies  present. 
The  conductor  finally  ordered  the  car  stopped  and  the  of- 
fender bounced.  As  the  instructions  of  the  street  car 
guards  placed  them  under  the  orders  of  the  conductor,  he 
proceeded  to  fulfill  his  orders.  The  Texan,  a  stalwart  fel- 
low, saw  the  matter  in  a  different  light,  and  proposed  to 


134  HISTORY    OF    THE 

remain  through  force  of  might.  A  struggle  ensued,  during 
which,  while  the  rifle  being  rendered  useless  by  the  hold  of 
the  Texan,  and  in  the  way,  was  dropped,  and  the  offender 
pushed  off.  The  rifle  having  fallen  to  the  ground  was 
reached  for  by  the  Texan,  but  his  antagonist  got  there  first. 
The  people,  including  some  officers  and  soldiers,  were 
greatly  excited,  and  started  to  interpose  to  prevent  serious 
trouble.  The  Texan,  however,  having  regained  some 
sense,  immediately  surrendered  and  was  marched  to  camp, 
all  the  time  indulging  in  a  tirade  against  street  car  con- 
ductors. His  punishment,  on  court-martial,  was  made 
light,  owing  to  the  considerate  testimony  submitted  by  the 
guard  whom  he  had  attacked. 

Ferd  Leonard  also  furnished  considerable  excitement 
for  the  whole  regiment  one  day  by  pronouncing  some  fer- 
vent and  inspired  opinions  of  the  colonel  in  the  very  pres- 
ence of  that  officer.  Some  thought  it  necessary  to  restrain 
the  flow  of  his  eloquence  and  attempted  it  in  a  brutal,  in- 
human manner.  One  who  did  not  at  first  sympathize  with 
the  condition  of  the  offender  would  be  driven  to  a  very  in- 
dignant defense  of  him  at  the  sight  of  such  cruel,  heartless 
punishment.  I  must  say  here  that  we  boys  had  considera- 
bly less  regard  for  those  who  perpetrated  the  offence.  A 
little  man  from  the  Second  Volunteer  Cavalry  burst  into 
indignant  tears  and  loudly  proclaimed  his  wish  for  a  "six- 
shooter."  I  would  almost  have  been  willing  to  take  one  to 
have  seen  him  put  two  more  where  they  ought  to  have 
gone.  Another  officer  of  the  Fourth  used  to  consider  it 
necessary  to  "buck"  and  "gag"  men  in  order  to  discipline 
them.  No  one  who  has  any  understanding  of  the  charac- 
ter of  the  volunteer  soldier  will  agree  with  him  as  to  the 
necessity  of  such  punishment.  It  is  brutal,  fit  only  to  be 
practiced  on  unmanageable  brutes  and  the  man  who  does  it 
lacks  sense,  heart,  manhood  and  honor.  He  is  little  bet- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  135 

ter  than  a  brute  himself.  He  demonstrated  all  this  by 
numerous  other  acts.  This  isn't  Company  I  history,  but  it 
is  history  to  the  members  of  Company  I. 

I  suppose  we  boys  will  not  soon  forget  the  hop  we  took 
to  meet  Governor  Tanner  one  night,  due  to  a  mistake  of 
the  Colonel  in  reading  a  telegram.  The  commanding  offi- 
cer noting  the  inactivity  of  the  Second  Illinois,  congratulated' 
himself  on  stealing  a  march  on  its  officers.  When  1 1 
o'clock  arrived  and  no  Governor  we  were  considerably  ex- 
asperated. We  arrived  in  camp  about  midnight,  hot  and 
tired  and  dusty.  Private  Joseph  Shuck  suffered  with  a 
severe  attack  of  the  cramps  in  the  muscles  of  his  lower 
limbs,  as  a  result  of  the  unusual  exertion.  We  almost  had 
trouble  with  a  certain  very  long,  attenuated  would-be 
physician  who  was  exceedingly  averse  to  getting  out  of  his 
bed  to  minister  to  the  wants  of  a  sick  private.  He  finally 
came,  under  a  threat  of  having  him  reported.  That  was 
about  as  much  professional  interest  as  a  great  many  pill 
quacks  ever  evinced  in  the  army. 

Although  Company  I  was  much  more  favorably  located 
in  the  Springfield  camp  at  Jacksonville  during  the  rainy 
weather,  it  was  with  some  satisfaction  that  we  settled  in 
the  new  camp  at  Panama.  It  was  a  more  desirable  site  in 
every  way  except  for  the  disadvantage  of  being  so  far  away 
from  the  city.  We  had  moved  to  escape  sickness,  which 
we  thought  would  certainly  result  from  a  longer  stay  in  the 
former  camp.  We  had  not  long  been  at  Panama,  how- 
ever, before  our  company  was  greatly  reduced  in  strength 
owing  to  the  great  inroads  of  disease.  It  was  not,  how- 
ever, probably  due  to  the  last  camp.  Two  good  surgeons 
pronounced  the  presence  of  so  much  fever  in  the  Fourth 
Illinois  to  be  due  to  the  extreme  unhealthfulness  of  Camp 
Springfield.  But  it  was  the  belief  of  a  great  many  that 
other  causes  contributed  to  bring  about  this  condition,  viz. : 


136  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  loss  of  enthusiasm,  hope  and  interest  consequent  on 
the  termination  of  hostilities,  and  the  ensuing  inactivity 
and  homesickness.  This  was  quite  conclusively  demon- 
strated by  the  comparative  condition  of  companies  that  had 
a  change  of  scene  and  occupation.  During  the  two  weeks 
Company  I  was  on  duty  in  Fairfield,  while  there  was  some 
sickness,  the  general  health  of  the  company  was  good. 
On  our  return  to  Camp  Panama  we  could  muster  as  many 
men  for  morning  drill  as  any  other  three  or  four  companies 
in  the  regiment.  But  shortly  after  rejoining  the  regiment 
Company  I  fell  a  victim  to  the  prevailing  conditions  and 
was  soon  in  as  lamentable  a  condition  physically  as  the 
other  companies.  In  those  days  it  was  difficult  to  muster 
more  than  three  or  four  squads  for  drill  or  guard  duty. 
Those  were  times  that  tried  our  souls.  The  quarrels  of  the 
officers  engendered  a  restless,  dissatisfied,  dissenting  spirit 
among  the  men.  Discipline  was  never  at  so  low  an  ebb. 
It  seemed  the  good,  hard,  earnest  labor  of  General  Ban- 
croft and  our  company  officers  had  been  lost.  Happily,  it 
was  a  mistaken  notion,  as  the  fine  work  of  the  regiment 
demonstrated  later  on.  Here,  at  this  time,  a  rather 
determined  effort  was.  made  to  get  rid  of  the  regimental 
canteen.  It  was  felt  that  it  was  the  cause  of  many  of  our 
complaints  in  the  rigid  administration  of  the  guard  line. 
It  was  forbidden  us  to  go  beyond  the  limits  of  the  regiment 
for  any  purpose  without  a  pass,  while  venders  were  kept 
out  of  the  quarters  and  stands  arbitrarily  forced  to  dis- 
continue business.  We  felt  that  this  was  largely  in  the 
interest  of  the  canteen.  Indignant  at  such  selfish  mean- 
ness, we  quickly  found  a  way  to  render  the  order  null  and 
void.  The  Sixth  Missouri  and  the  First  and  Second  South 
Carolina  men  were  privileged  to  pass  in  and  out  without 
restraint  in  order  that  they  might  patronize  our  canteen. 
So  when  we  desired  to  go  beyond  the  lines  we  would  walk 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  137 

past  a  sentinel,  perhaps  our  own  "bunkie,"  and  give  the 
password,  which  was  "  Sixth  Missouri  "  or  "  Second  South 
Carolina."  If  a  man  acted  as  if  he  were  going  across 
without  giving  the  word,  the  guard  would  call:  "Say, 
you're  Sixth  Mo.,  ain't  you?"  "Yes."  "All  right;  go 
ahead  then." 

The  movement  against  the  canteen  originated  with 
two  or  three  Company  I  men  and  a  Company  A  man,  who 
enlisted  the  sympathy  of  two  or  three  kindred  spirits  and 
started  a  petition  through  all  the  companies  requesting  the 
Colonel  to  abolish  the  canteen.  He  had  been  remonstrated 
with  time  and  again  by  his  superior  officers,  all  to  no  avail. 
In  two  companies  no  effort  was  made  to  circulate  a  petition 
for  fear  of  official  vengeance.  In  some  companies  as  high 
as  eighty  to  ninety  per  cent,  of  the  members  signed  it.  In 
others  only  thirty  to  forty  per  cent.,  but  had  the  petition 
been  taken  through  at  an  earlier  date  or  had  all  signed  it 
who  had  in  some  way  and  at  some  time  condemned  it,  not 
less  than  ninety  per  cent,  of  the  whole  regiment  would  have 
signed  it. 

When  the  Colonel  learned  of  the  proceedings  he  threat- 
ened to  reduce  to  the  ranks  every  non-commissioned  officer 
who  had  signed  it.  It  was  the  desire  of  some  to  defy 
him  to  do  his  worst,  write  him  up  in  the  papers,  enlist  the 
sympathy  of  the  temperance  and  church  people  and  arouse 
popular  opinion  to  such  a  temper  as  to  make  his  resigna- 
tion inevitable.  But  some  were  so  mortally  afraid  of  the 
disgrace  of  being  reduced  to  a  private  soldier  that  they 
made  almost  frantic  appeals  for  the  withholding  of  the 
papers  from  the  Colonel.  Their  wishes  were  finally  heeded, 
though  we  have  always  believed  that  had  we  persisted  in 
our  former  course  that  beneficial  results  would  have  fol- 
lowed despite  the  fact  that  it  was  an  unmilitary  procedure 
and  would  have  involved  us  in  trouble  and  perhaps  sub- 


138  HISTORY    OF    THE 

jected  us  to  severe  punishment.  This  incident  kept  the 
camp  in  an  excited  state  of  mind  for  several  days  owing  to 
the  numerous  and  heated  arguments  that  were  precipitated. 
Some,  very  unchristian-like  opinions  were  expressed  by  both 
sides. 

Another  subject  of  much  heated  argument  was  the 
question  of  going  to  Cuba.  The  partisans  of  each  side 
were  equally  pronounced  and  outspoken  in  their  views. 
Those  who  favored  the  idea,  however,  "were  in  the  minor- 
ity." But  it  is  probable  that  if  a  vote  were  taken  to-day  a 
majority  would  declare  their  satisfaction  at  having  gone. 

But  the  most  depressing  and  discouraging  feature  of 
life  at  Camp  Panama  was  the  great  number  of  men  that 
fell  ill.  So  many  were  stricken  that  even  the  most  health- 
ful experienced  a  sense  of  gloom  and  uncertainty.  None 
knew  whose  turn  it  would  be  next.  It  would  be  impossible 
for  the  writer  in  the  absence  of  all  notes  to  mention  all 
those  who  were  seriously  ill  and  those  who  passed  through 
the  "valley  of  the  shadow  of  death"  and  lived  to  tell  the 
story. 

We,  however,  lost  by  death  four  men.  The  first  of 
these  was  Herman  Smith,  a  jolly,  good  natured  boy  who 
made  many  original  and  witty  remarks  and  livened  the 
boys  up  wherever  he  was,  no  matter  what  transpired.  ' '  Har- 
monica "  was  usually  cheerful  and  ready  to  create  a  laugh. 
He  gave  his  life  to  his  country  and  to  his  God  September 
24,  1898. 

The  next  to  be  called  was  Sergeant  Clarence  Hall, 
who  answered  the  last  roll  call  September  27,  1898,  three 
days  after  comrade  Smith  had  left  our  ranks.  Hall  was  a 
man  greatly  beloved  by  all  the  men  of  his  company  and 
deservedly  so.  As  a  non-commissioned  officer  he  was 
efficient,  but  modest  and  unassuming.  He  was  considerate 
and  kindly  toward  those  under  his  direction  and  control 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  139 

and  arrogated  to  himself  no  airs  of  superiority.  He  was 
good  humored,  humorous  and  a  true  friend.  It  will  create 
no  envy  to  say  that  he  was  the  most  popular  non-com- 
missioned officer  in  the  company.  His  case  was  especially 
sad,  since  he  left  a  young  and  beautiful  wife  and  a  little 
babe.  Many  were  the  tears  that  coursed  down  the  faces 
of  his  remaining  comrades  when  the  sweet  and  solemn 
melody  of  the  bugle  summoned  him  to  his  last  long  sleep. 
May  God  bless,  comfort  and  protect  his  sorrowing  wife 
and  mother  and  his  fatherless  babe. 

October  27,  1898,  was  a  day  made  memorable  by  the 
sad  and  untimely  deaths  of  Patrick  Ryan  and  James 
McLaren.  The  former  was  one  of  the  greatest  wits  in  the 
company  and  by  his  droll  stories  and  Irish  wit  generally 
kept  his  companions  in  a  spirit  of  great  good  humor.  He 
was  also  a  true  friend,  honest  and  thoroughly  reliable.  It 
was  never  my  lot  to  hear  a  word  spoken  in  disparagement 
of  Pat  Ryan.  He  was  greatly  liked  by  all  the  boys  of  his 
company  and  his  death  was  a  source  of  deep  and  profound 
regret.  James  McLaren,  whose  death  we  were  called  upon 
to  mourn  at  the  same  time,  was  another  hale  fellow  well 
met.  He  was  a  sharp,  shrewd  thinker,  a  jolly  fellow  who 
loved  a  good  time  and  possessed  that  virtue  of  virtues  in  a 
soldier's  eyes,  viz:  loyalty  to  friends.  To  them  he  was  true 
as  steel  and  was  never  called  upon  by  them  in  vain.  May 
the  Father  of  all  mercies  smile  and  solace  the  hearts  of  the 
stricken  fathers,  mothers,  brothers,  sisters  and  friends  of 
our  dead  comrades. 

The  first  Company  I  man  to  receive  a  discharge,  be- 
cause of  physical  disability,  was  George  Bingaman,  with 
whose  misfortune  we  all  sympathized  deeply.  Then  fol- 
lowed, for  like  reasons,  the  discharges  of  James  O.  Guinn, 
Henry  Wilson,  Fletcher  Bullington,  Harry  T.  Dungey, 
Orville  C.  Boit,  John  M.  Slichter,  Charles  O.  Toothaker 


I4O  HISTORY   OF   THE 

and  Rollin  D.  Snerley,  though  not  in  the  order  named. 
Some  were  discharged  after  we  reached  Savannah,  while 
others  served  for  a  time  in  Cuba.  We  lost  five  men  by 
transfer,  viz. :  Si  Bullington  to  Indiana  Volunteer  Cavalry, 
Edward  Hill  to  United  States  Hospital  Corps,  Isaac  Hil- 
ton to  Company  G,  Cortez  W.  McKnight  to  Signal  Corps, 
and  Joseph  Shuck  to  Company  E. 

After  the  dreary,  monotony,  sickness  and  death  at 
Camp  Panama,  the  boys  of  Company  I  welcomed  the 
change  to  provost  duty  at  station  No.  I,  in  Jacksonville. 
As  the  writer  was  not  with  the  company  during  this  period 
of  its  service,  he  has  had  to  depend  on  what  has  been  re- 
lated to  him,  and  that  was  not  much.  It  would  seem  that 
outside  of  the  necessity  of  giving  numerous  shower  baths, 
at  which  they  became  experts,  the  boys  met  with  few  ex- 
citing adventures  worthy  of  notice. 

Akeman  related  a  little  story  of  how  he  avoided 
"pinching"  a  comrade,  but  the  details  of  it  have  about 
escaped  my  memory.  It  seems  that  Peter  has  a  tender, 
generous  heart.  He  thought  to  himself,  "do  as  you  would 
be  done  by."  Seeing  that  the  gentleman  was  laying  him- 
self liable  to  arrest,  and  being  averse  to  subjecting  him  to 
that  annoyance  and  inconvenience,  Peter  made  himself 
scarce,  and  allowed  the  gentleman  to  escape.  It  seems 
that  an  officer  happened  to  see  the  proceeding,  but  appre- 
ciating Peter's  philanthropy,  he  connived  at  the  procedure, 
and  secretly  reassured  him.  Peter  said  it  made  him  "  very 
glad,"  and  I  believe  myself,  the  angels  must  have  sung  an 
extra  song  on  the  strength  of  it. 

Company  I  formed  a  part  of  the  advance  guard  under 
Major  Bennett,  which  first  took  charge  of  provost  work  at 
Savannah,  Georgia. 

I  have  heard  that  the  people  of  Savannah  appreciated 
the  advent  of  the  soldiers  with  feelings  of  alarm,  appre- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  14! 

hension  and  dread.  But  that  the  gentlemanly  conduct  of 
the  boys  and  the  entire  ability  of  the  guards  to  quell  all 
disturbances  and  control  all  disorder  soon  put  them  at  their 
ease  and  disposed  them  to  give  the  boys  in  blue  a  hospit- 
able, hearty  reception  wherever  they  went.  It  may  safely 
be  said  therefore  that  no  small  credit  for  the  generous  treat- 
ment the  soldiers  received  is  due  those  who  formed  the  ad- 
vance guard  and  to  Company  I  as  a  portion  of  that  detail. 
Our  boys  won  laurels  of  praise  in  common  with  the  other 
companies  of  the  regiment  in  the  great  review  by  President 
McKinley. 

They  were  royally  treated  by  the  citizens  of  Savan- 
nah on  Thanksgiving  day,  and  desire  here  to  express  their 
heart-felt  gratitude  to  the  people  of  Savannah  for  the  kind- 
ly and  generous  recognition  they  received  that  day.  The 
state  of  Illinois  owes,  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  people  of 
Savannah  for  their  generous  treatment  of  the  boys  of  Illi- 
nois. 

No  events  of  particular  importance  occurred  in  Savan- 
nah, so  far  as  I  could  ascertain  from  the  boys.  One  laugh- 
able incident  occurred  when  one  night  on  one  of  the  nu- 
merous raids  Captain  Houston  rounded  a  corner  of  a  house 
and  discerning  two  shadowy  forms  in  the  dark  called  "halt!" 
Whereupon  a  trembling  voice  replied,  "D-d-d-d-don't,  don't 
sh-sh-shoot,  Cap,  its  me."  The  forms  were  afterward  dis- 
covered to  be  the  substantial  personalities  of  Tilen  Ader- 
holt  and  Crowder.  But  both  disclaimed  ownership  of 
the  voice  and  have  so  far  succeeded  in  deceiving  themselves 
that  they  say  and  seem  to  really  believe  that  it  was  all  a 
joke  of  the  boys'  manufacture. 

Griffith  and  Newberry,  as  well  as  a  few  others,  paid  a 
good  round  sum  for  a  night's  entertainment  but  since  the 
fines  are  devoted  to  a  good  cause  it  is  not  so  good  a  cause 
of  grief  as  might  be  at  first  inferred.  Christmas  was  a 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  143 

great  day  with  the  Company  I  boys.  They  will  not  soon 
forget  the  uproarious,  hilarious,  jolly  time  they  had  that 
day. 

It  was  not  without  satisfaction  that  we  received  our 
orders  to  pack  up,  preparatory  to  our  departure  for  Cuba. 
At  least  a  change  was  in  prospect.  As  our  company 
marched  through  the  street  there  were  numerous  testimon- 
ials of  the  high  regard  in  which  the  men  of  Company  I  were 
held  by  the  citizens  of  Savannah.  People  frequently 
darted  from  the  ranks  of  the  bystanders  to  grasp  the  hands 
of  our  boys  in  a  farewell  clasp,  and  wish  them  God-speed, 
a  pleasant  sojourn  and  a  safe  return.  Some  of  the  devoted 
sweet  hearts  of  the  boys  defied  the  guards  at  the  entrance 
of  the  wharf  by  climbing  on  army  wagons  and  riding  in,  in 
order  to  bid  their  young  Lochinvars  farewell. 

Company  I  fared  well  in  the  matter  of  room  on  the 
boat,  but  some  of  our  men  became  very  sick,  notwithstand- 
ing, scarcely  leaving  their  bunks  from  the  time  of  starting 
to  that  of  landing,  and  all  the  time  doing  their  full  duty 
by*  the  fish.  We  were  all  deeply  touched.  The  writer 
was  himself  too  sick  to  note  the  condition  of  many  others, 
but  remembers  very  well  the  desperate  condition  of  Cor- 
poral Hammond. 

After  arriving  within  the  harbor  of  Havana  we  soon 
recuperated  and  became  greatly  interested  in  the  wonder- 
ful land  to  which  we  had  came.  Observing  the  peculiar 
method  of  unloading  cattle  in  vogue,  Roy  Fogler  denomin- 
ated it  a  "  new  brand  of  jerked  beef."  So  eager  did  some 
of  the  boys  come  to  explore  the  city  of  which  they  had 
heard  so  much  that  they  could  not  wait  for  the  disembarka- 
tion of  the  regiment,  but  passing  the  guards  they  hazarded 
an  independent  expedition.  These  two  adventurers  were 
Johnson  and  Bettner.  They  hadn't  learned  nearly  all  there 
was  to  know  before  they  ran  afoul  of  a  United  States  regu- 


144  HISTORY    OF    THE 

lar,who  promptly  arrested  them  and  had  them  incarcerated 
in  a  Spanish  jail.  The  next  morning,  after  an  interview  with 
Major  Harrison,  who  vindicated  their  right  to  be  abroad, 
they  were  released.  Nevertheless  they  have  the  distinction  of 
having  been  the  only  Company  I  men  to  pass  a  night  be- 
hind the  bars  in  Cuba.  Not  that  they  were  the  only  ones 
that  deserved  to,  but  that  they  were  the  only  ones  that 
did. 

Our  first  night  in  camp  was  distinguished  by  a  rain- 
storm. Owing  to  our  ignorance  of  Cuban  soil  we  had  failed 
to  properly  and  adequately  stake  our  tents.  Before  a  great 
while  many  of  them  were  down  and  the  unlucky  inmates 
were  out  wading  about  in  the  mud,  endeavoring  to  raise 
them  and  drive  stakes  with  any  available  club  in  the  inky 
darkness  of  night. 

On  several  occasions  our  tents  fell  in  Cuba.  One 
morning,  a  little  while  before  reveille,  the  tent  of  the  first 
squad  blew  down.  Hammond  Newberry  and  Cheeney 
found  about  half  of  their  anatomy  exposed  to  the  elements. 
They  were  compelled  to  leave  their  comfortable  blankets 
and  dress  in  the  storm.  They  then  endeavored  to  rouse 
their  comrades,  Pollard,  Handel,  Kimbro  and  Moffett. 
Only  the  latter  responded,  the  others  being  too  comfortable 
to  stir  our  one  second  before  "get  'em  up."  With  much 
difficulty  and  swearing  at  the  sleeping  boys  under  cover 
the  tent  was  finally  raised.  Later  on  the  tables  were 
turned  and  out  former  luxuriating  comrades  found  them- 
selves in  the  rain.  In  vain  did  they  call  for  our  help.  We 
groaned,  grunted  and  finally  told  them  to  "chase  them- 
selves "  in  army  language.  For  some  time  after  arriving 
in  Cuba  the  life  of  our  men  was  confined  to  the  camp  and 
immediate  vicinity,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  obtaining 
passes.  It  took  a  regular  furlough  to  pass  one  in  safety  to 
the  city  of  Havana,  or  to  Colon  cemetery. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  145 

But  after  a  time  the  curiosity  of  the  boys  overcame  all 
fears  and  many  were  the  trips  made  to  Havana  with  only 
pure  unadulterated  nerve  for  a  pass.  Mabry  and  Aderholt 
were  among  the  initiators  of  this  movement,  while  Snyder, 
Fleming,  Wright,  Johnson  and  several  others  weren't  far 
behind.  One  of  these  ran  onto  a  regular  one  day,  and, 
fearing  some  embarrassing  requests,  he  boldy  crossed  the 
street,  went  up  to  the  sentinel  and  inquired  the  way  to  the 
post  office.  He  was  told  and  went  on  his  way  rejoicing. 

Wright,  Snyder,  Fleming,  Spradling  and  one  or  twa 
others  missed  the  train  returning  on  one  occasion  and? 
started  to  camp  on  foot.  They  managed  to  work  upon  the 
sympathies  of  the  various  provosts,  but  finally  lost  their 
way  and  wandered  about  for  some  hours  in  outer  darkness. 
They  arrived  in  camp  next  morning  about  Q  o'clock,  after 
having  taken  a  swim,  and  proceeded  leisurely  into  quarters. 
They  figured  that  it  would  not  cost  any  more  to  miss  drill! 
also,  and  in  that  they  were  wise.  We  never  learned  just, 
what  the  trip  cost  the  boys,  but  from  all  reports  they  got: 
their  money's  worth.  They  are  to  be  congratulated  on 
their  good  fortune,  for  it  was  seldom  on  such  occasions 
that  the  boys  got  all  they  were  compelled  to  pay  for. 

Wright,  Fleming  and  a  few  others  were  the  partici- 
pants in  a  Sunday  night  lark  with  some  cognac  that  we,aU 
remember  pretty  well.  The  former  found  himself  in  an 
unexpected  colloquy  with  "  Brother  Sam  "  as  he  crawled 
into  the  back  end  of  his  tent,  and  soon  after  found  himself 
on  the  way  to  the  guard-house.  But  Joe  was  too  full  of 
good  spirits  to  be  much  depressed. 

By  far  the  most  important  event  to  the  company  was 
the  march  to  Guines.  Unfortunately,  this  was  another 
event  the  writer  missed.  About  the  only  occurrence  of 
which  we  learned  that  distinguished  their  experience  from 

that  of  other  companies  on  the  march  was  the  capture  by 
10 


146  HISTORY    OF    THE 

our  "  snake  charmer."  Tom  Pantry,  aided  by  others,  of 
some  very  large  serpents  of  the  boa  constrictor  variety. 
They  were  thereafter  the  object  of  a  great  deal  of  interest. 
Tom  soon  had  them  well  trained.  Many  of  the  nervy  and 
adventurous  coiled  them  around  themselves  and  had  their 
pictures  taken.  Red  Handel  was  the  subject  of  one  of 
these  photos.  But  it  wasn't  for  any  love  of  notoriety, 
adventure  or  snakes  that  Red  submitted  himself.  It  was 
for  an  almighty  dollar.  Red  was  broke  at  the  time. 
Knowing  Red's  antipathy  to  snakes,  some  gamester  waged 
him  a  dollar  that  he  didn't  have  the  nerve  to  wrap  the 
"big  snake"  around  himself  and  have  his  picture  taken. 
One  thing  he  didn't  know,  and  that  was  Red's  attachment 
to  a  dollar  when  he  was  broke.  Red  afterward  said  that 
he  sweat  blood,  but  he  wanted  that  dollar  mvfnl  bad. 

It  was  with  some  delight  that  we  received  orders  to 
pack  up  preparatory  to  our  return  home. 

By  evening  of  the  first  day  we  were  on  our  way  to  the 
transports.  Again  we  suffered  all  the  tortures  of  sea  sick- 
ness and  were  glad  enough  to  arrive  off  Egneout  Key. 
Here  we  spent  the  most  disagreeable  three  days  of  all  our 
period  of  service.  The  dirt  and  sand  and  wind  were  ex- 
tremely annoying.  We  ran  short  of  potatoes  here,  but 
managed  to  make  up  the  deficiency.  Company  K's  efficient 
quartermaster  sergeant,  "Cap  Furz,"  had  marked  and 
branded  his  potato  sacks  in  an  unmistakable  manner.  But 
a  jack-knife  quickly  converted  the  K  to  an  I,  when  we  car- 
ried the  tubers  off  the  lighter  under  the  very  noses  of  the 
watchful  officers.  Some  tomato  cans  were  also  smuggled 
through  in  a  sack  of  spoiled  bread  and  helped  materially 
in  filling  our  vacancies. 

During  our  stay  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  we  enjoyed  more 
liberty  than  at  any  previous  time.  Indeed,  Hainan  and 
one  or  two  others  moved  to  town  a  few  days  before  we  left. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  147 

Only  a  few  of  our  men  were  "pulled"  by  the  Georgia 
crackers  on  guard  there.  Stewart  and  Bogardus  were 
treated  to  a  night's  lodging  in  the  city,  as  was  also  Ader- 
holt.  What  the  latter  did  to  the  stove  and  bars  in  the  en- 
deavor to  break  into  a  "coon"  pen  was  a  plenty.  Ader- 
holt  had  the  happy  faculty  of  making  the  best  of  every 
situation.  When  the  fellows  "  got  broke  "  they  instituted 
some  very  amusing  rag  dances  as  a  diversion.  * 

As  the  time  drew  near  for  muster  out  all  was  eager- 
ness and  enthusiasm.  The  boys  at  this  time  knew  more 
of  what  was  going  on  officially  than  at  any  other  time,  be- 
cause of  the  large  number  of  men  detailed  from  the  com- 
panies as  clerks.  Fogler,  Haughawont,  Whitefort,  Short, 
Foucht  and  Cheeney  were  on  special  duty  for  some  time. 
Other  men  who  saw  special  duty  at  different  times  during 
our  service  were  Washburne,  Ed  Snyder,  Si  Bullington, 
Frank  Dickson,  who  was  on  duty  continuously  from  the 
time  we  were  mustered  in  'til  we  were  mustered  out  at  the 
regimental  and  brigade  headquarters.  He  was  a  very 
efficient  clerk  and  deservedly  popular  with  the  various  of- 
ficial staffs.  Charles  I.  Curry,  as  permanent  provost  in 
Jacksonville;  William  Slichter,  Ralph  Handel,  as  canteen 
clerks,  the  latter  also  saw  much  special  duty  as  permanent 
provost;  Ed  Fellwock,  permanent  provost  in  Cuba;  Hugh 
E.  Kavanaugh,  John  Kitchen,  Jesse  Kimbry  and  William 
Gilbert  and  Sergeant  Frank  Sawler,  as  special  provosts  in 
Augusta,  Georgia;  Lieutenant  Clayton  saw  special  duty  as 
provost  marshal  and  as  regimental  adjutant  for  a  long 
period  of  his  service.  The  token  of  the  esteem  in  which 
he  was  held  was  mentioned  elsewhere.  It  should  he  here 
mentioned  that  Lieutenant  Stout  was  also  the  recipient  of 
a  sword,  the  gift  of  the  men  of  his  company  at  Jackson- 
ville, Florida.  If  any  have  not  been  mentioned  in  this 
connectioned,  be  assured  that  the  neglect  was  not  interi- 


148  HISTORY    OF    THE 

tional.  This  work  has  been  entirely  from  memory.  It 
would  not  be  at  all  strange  if  some  things  do  not  therefore 
appear  in  the  proper  connection. 

The  5th  of  May  was  to  us  all  a  day  of  great  rejoicing. 
We  were  soon  packed,  in  the  morning,  and  after  procuring 
the  little  "paper  and  long  green,"  for  which  we  had  pa- 
tiently (?)  waited,  we  were  soon  on  our  way  to  the  waiting 
cars.  A  most  vexatious  delay  now  occurred.  The  rail- 
way company  had  made  us  all  sorts  of  promises,  agreeing 
to  have  us  away  by  3:00  P.  M. ,  and  into  the  city  of  Van- 
dalia  within  twenty-four  hours.  But,  having  gotten  our 
money,  little  did  they  reck.  We  were  delayed  until  nearly 
6:00  P.  M.,  and  did  not  arrive  in  Vandalia  till  some  thirty- 
six  hours  later.  During  the  delay,  some  very  exciting  in- 
cidents occurred.  Some  of  the  less  "  nervy  "  left  the  train 
and  came  up  on  later  trains,  but  overtook  us  at  Nashville, 
Tennessee.  Klunker  was  reported  to  have  been  badly 
excited. 

The  home-coming  of  the  boys  was  marked  with  a  joy 
and  enthusiasm  impossible  to  describe.  rThe  citizens  of 
Fayette  county  had  been  kept  constantly  informed  of  our 
movements  from  the  time  we  left  Augusta.  In  conse- 
quence a  great  crowd  of  people  from  all  parts  of  the 
county  were  in  Vandalia  to  welcome  the  men  home.  Many 
of  them  had  husbands,  brothers  or  friends  in  the  company 
who  intensified  the  interest  they  felt. 

The  emotions  of  the  boys  as  the  train  whistled  for 
the  town  from  which  they  had  marched  away  over  a  year 
before,  pen  could  not  convey.  Tears  of  joy  were  near  the 
surface  and  the  heart  throbbed  painfully  as  they  antici- 
pated the  welcome  of  the  great  concourse  of  their  patriotic 
and  appreciative  countrymen  and  greetings  of  the  gray- 
haired  fathers  and  mothers,  the  devoted  wives  and  sweet- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  149 

hearts,  the  loving  brothers  and  sisters,  the  affectionate 
friends  and  kindly  neighbors. 

What  they  had  anticipated  was  more  than  realized. 
The  train  was  welcomed  with  a  tremendous  cheer  and  the 
lively  joyous  music  of  bands.  The  crush  of  the  assembly 
forbade  any  formation  of  the  company  as  was  intended. 
The  boys  climbed  down  into  the  crowd  and  into  the  arms 
of  their  relatives  and  friends.  In  some  the  long  pent  up 
emotion  swept  away  all  barriers  and  expressed  itself  in 
sobs  and  tears.  In  others  the  warm  fervent  grasp  of  the 
hand,  the  quiet  tear  and  the  trembling  lip  betokened  a  heart 
too  full  for  utterance. 

After  long  delay  the  boys  were  finally  gotten  into  the 
Aragon  hotel,  where  an  elegant  and  sumptuous  banquet  was 
served.  We  almost  felt  that  the  testimonials  of  the  appre- 
ciation and  gratitude  of  the  people  were  more  than  our 
humble  services  deserved.  Little  had  we  done,  but  we 
were  received  with  all  the  grace,  enthusiasm  and  devotion 
that  could  be  extended  the  grizzled  veterans  of  many  a 
bloody  field.  As  we  sat  and  partook  of  the  elegant  viands, 
and  received  the  gracious  smiles  and  thoughtful  attention 
of  noble  women  and  the  prettiest  girls  in  the  country,  we 
forgot  our  trials,  disappointments  and  the  monotony  of 
camp  life  and  felt  that  surely  we  had  been  more  than  repaid 
on  that  day  for  all  that  we  had  sacrificed.  If  Father  Mc- 
Kinley  had  then  and  there  appeared  and  called  for  volunt- 
eers to  march  into  the  infernal  regions,  every  kicking, 
growling  grumbler  would  have  sworn  his  life  away.  With 
such  noble,  devoted,  patriotic  and  beautiful  women  and 
girls  as  this  country  can  boast,  it  is  no  wonder  our  soldiers 
can  "lick  "  the  world.  They  have  both  blood  and  inspira- 
tion. God  bless  the  women  of  America,  and  particularly 
the  women  of  Vandalia. 

After  the   banquet  a    recption    was    tendered   in  the 


I5O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Armory  hall.  An  eloquent,  able  and  touching  address  of 
welcome  was  delivered  by  Hon.  J.  J.  Brown,  and  was  re- 
sponded to  on  behalf  of  the  company  by  private  George  W. 
Cheeney.  Other  addresses  were  delivered  by  ex-Chaplain 

Todd  and  Rev.  Ned ,  after  which  the  meeting  broke 

up  in  handshaking.  Our  deepest  gratitude  is  extended  to 
the  people  of  Vandalia  and  Fayette  county  for  the  apprecai- 
tion  and  gratitude  they  so  ably  and  substantially  expressed. 

A  reception  and  banquet  under  such  circumstances  in- 
volved much  work  and  planning.  The  arrangements  and 
their  execution  could  not  have  been  more  perfect.  Every 
want  and  expense  of  the  boys  was  anticipated  and  met. 
Even  passes  over  the  Central  R.  R.  were  secured  for  them, 
and  lodging  at  the  hotels  where  it  was  made  necessary. 
We  venture  to  say  that  of  all  the  receptions  that  have  been 
tendered  returning  soldiers  not  one  was  more  thoroughly 
enjoyed  or  enjoyable  than  the  one  given,  at  Vandalia.  Cit- 
izens of  Vandalia,  kindly  accept  our  most  sincere  thanks 
and  deepest  gratitude. 

Boys,  we  have  bade  each  other,  as  an  organization, 
good-bye  for  ever.  We  were  many  times  discouraged  and 
weary  of  army  life.  But  as  the  swift  years  roll  away  we 
will  look  back  upon  those  months  of  association  and  ex- 
perience with  pleasure  and  satisfaction  not  unmingled  with 
tinges  of  regret. 

We  will  miss  the  camp  fire  chats,  the  stories,  the 
songs  and  the  dances.  We  will  miss  big,  good-natured 
"Daddy  Hammond, "the  humorous  Goodie,  the  devilish 
Mabry,  droll  old  Aderholt  and  Akeman,  and  last. but  by  no 
means  least,  "brother  Sam  Houston."  Yes,  we  will  miss 
you  each  and  all.  But  from  the  "gallery  of  memory  "  we 
trust  that  we  may  never  be  absent,  and  that  each  and 
every  image  will  revive  recollections  dear  and  precious,  if 
tinged  with  sadness. 


152  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ROSTER  OF    COMPANY  I. 

HOUSTON,  S.  S.,  Captain,  Vandalia,  111.,  Commercial  Trav- 
eler. 

CLAYTON,  E.  P.,  First  Lieutenant,  Vandalia,  111.,  molder. 
STOUT,  P.  D.,  Second  Lieutenant,  Vandalia,  111.,  clerk. 

SERGEANTS. 

Adams,  Thomas  E.,  Vera,  111.,  Farmer. 

Lawler,  J.  F.,  Vandalia,  111.,  Butcher. 

Clark,  Charles  A.,    Vandalia,    111.,   Electrician;   appointed 

Sergeant-Major   Second   Battalion,    Fourth    Illinois 

Volunteer  Infantry,  March  19,  1899. 
Hall,  C.  L. ,  Vandalia,  I1J.,  clerk;   died   at  Third   Division 

Hospital,  Seventh  Army  Corps,   Camp  Cuba  Libre, 

Jacksonville,  Florida,  September  27,  1898,  of  typhoid 

fever. 

Pacatte,  Frank,  Vandalia,  111.,  Laborer. 
Jenkins,  Ezra  L.,  Vandalia,  111.,  Painter;  reduced  to  ranks 

December  4,  1898.  % 

Hagy,  James  H.,  Vandalia,  111.,    Laundryman;  enrolled  as 

Private,  mustered  in  as  Corporal;  appointed  Sergeant 

Jan.  i,  1899. 
Smith,  C.    W.,    Brownstown,    111.,    Teacher;    enrolled    as 

Private,  mustered  in  as  Corporal,  appointed  Sergeant 

Jan.   i,  1899. 

CORPORALS. 

Brown,  Lewis,  Vandalia,  111.,  Laborer. 

Hammond,  fiarry,  Vandalia,  111.,  Carpenter. 

Bullington,  J.  F.,   Vandalia,    111.,   Teacher;  transferred  to 

Second   United  States  Volunteer  Cavalry  Sept.    8, 

1898. 
Curry,  James  T.,  Vandalia,  111.,  Wood-turner. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  I  53 

Sweet,  C.  W. ,  Vandalia,  111.,  Clerk;  promoted  from  Private 

to  Corporal  Aug.   I,   1898. 
Haughawort  J.  D.,  Vandalia,  111.,  Teacher;  promoted  from 

Private  to  Corporal  Aug.   r,  1898. 
Hartman,  F.  O.,    Vandalia,    111.,    Tinner;   promoted  from 

Private  to  Corporal  Aug.  i,  1898. 
Carter,  Charles  R.,  Vandalia,  111.,  Laborer; promoted  from 

Private  to  Corporal  Aug.  I,  1898. 
Sturgess,  E.  B.,  Vandalia.  111.,   student;  mustered  in  June 

20,  1898;  promoted  from  Private  to  Corporal  Aug. 

i,  1898. 
Guinn,  James  O.,  Vandalia,  111.,  Student;  mustered  in  June 

20,  1898;  promoted   from  Private  to  Corporal  Aug. 

i,    1898;   discharged   on   disability   at   Jacksonville, 

Fla.,  September  7,  1898. 
Mammen,  Chas.  A.,  Vera,  111.,  Carpenter,  promoted  from 

Private  to  Corporal  Feb.  17,  1899. 

Moffett,  Jesse,  Clinton,  111.,  Locomotive  Fireman,  promot- 
ed from  Private  to  Corporal  Feb.  17,  1899. 
Short,   John   A.,    Avena,    111.,    Merchant,   promoted  from 

Private  to  Corporal,  Apr.  20,   1 899. 
Whitfort,   Geo.    D.,    St.    Elmo,    111.,    Teacher,    appointed 

Wagoner  July  i,  1898;  promoted  to  Corporal  Apr. 

20,  1899. 
Brannon,  Thos.  J.,  Vanialia,  111.,  Laundryman,  mustered 

in  June  23,    1898;   promoted   from   Private  to  Cor- 
poral Nov.  2,   1898. 

MUSICIANS. 

Boyer,  Paul  K.,  Vandalia,  111.,  Painter,  sick  in  United 
States  General  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va.,  at 
date  of  muster  out. 

McKnight,  F.  R. ,  Ramsey,  111.,  Telegrapher. 


154  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ARTIFICERS. 

Manion,  H.  P.,    Vandalia,    111.,    Teacher,    discharged  Jan. 

28,  1899,  from  United  States  General  Hospital,  Ft. 

Monroe,  Va. 
Johnson,  F.  A.,  Mulberry   Grove,    111.,  Farmer,  appointed 

as  Artificer,  Feb.  20,  1899. 

WAGONER. 

Foucht,  W.  A.,  Shobonier,  111.,  Teacher,  appointed  as 
Wagoner  Apr.  18,  1899. 

*  PRIVATES. 

Figures  following  name  indicate  age. 

Akeman,  Peter  F. ,  Vandalia,  111.,  Farmer. 

Aderholt,  Tilden,  24,  Vernon,  111.,  farmer. 

Bailey,  W.  I.,  30,  Mulberry  Grove,  111.,  laborer. 

Bingaman,  George,  20,  Vandalia,  111.,  clerk;  discharged  on 
disability,  Aug.  27,  1898,  Jacksonville,  Fla. 

Bogardus,  A.  D.,  18,  Clinton,  111.,  carpenter. 

Bettner,  E.  J.,  23,  Vandalia,  111.,  printer. 

Bass,  George  W.,  22,  Watson,  111.,  farmer;  mustered  in 
June  20,  1898. 

Bolt,  D.  C. ,  22,  Ramsey,  111.,  printer;  mustered  in  June 
17,  1898;  discharged  Jan.  13,  1899,  by  order  Sec- 
retary of  War. 

Bullington,  F.  C.,  21,  Vandalia,  111.,  teacher;  mustered  in 
June  1 8,  1898;  discharged  Jan.  31,  1899,  from  U. 
S.  Gen.  Hosp. ,  Ft.  Monroe,  Va. 

Courtney,  C.  S.,  25,  Ramsey,  111.,  printer. 

Curry,  Charles  E. ,  23,  Vandalia,  111.,  laborer. 

Chandler,  Roy,  20,  Vandalia,  111.,  cigarmaker. 

Cheney,  George,  23,  Saybrook,  111.,  teacher. 

Cheney,  W.  H.,  20,    Saybrook,    111.,   student. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  155 

Cullom,  Charles  E.,  18,  Hagerstown,    111.,    student;   mus- 
tered in  June  18,  1898. 

Crowder,  Charles  E.,  28,  Vernon,  111.,  farmer. 
Dickson,  Frank,  21,  Ramsey,  111.,  law  student;  detailed  as 

brigade  clerk,  Aug.  8,  1898. 
Dungey,  Harry,  24,  Winfield,  Kan.,  hostler;  discharged  on 

disability,  Aug.  27,  1898. 
Dennis,   D.    D.,  28,   Chicago,    111.,   engineer,    mustered   in 

June  18,  1898. 
Danbury,  W.   L.,   25,   Vernon,    111.,    farmer;  mustered   in 

June  20,  1898. 

Fogler,  R.  C.,  19,  St.  Elmo,  111.,  clerk. 
Fogler,  H.  S.,  19,  St.  Elmo,  111.,  miller. 
Fleming,  C.  A.,  Mulberry   Grove,    111.,   Farmer,  mustered 

in  June  18,  1898. 
Fellwock,    Edward,    Vandalia,    111.,   Painter,    mustered   in 

June  1 8,  1898. 

German,  Wm.,  Vandalia,   111.,  Farmer. 
Gilbert,  Wm.,  Chapin,  111.,  Farmer. 
Griffith,  C.  L. ,  Vandalia,   111.,  Laborer. 
Handle,  E.,  Vandalia,   111.,  Farmer. 
Handle,  R. ,  Vandalia,  111.,  Blacksmith. 
Hill,  E.  A.,  Dixon,  111.,  Farmer. 
Hill,    Edward,    Effingham,    111.,    Laborer,    transferred    to 

United  States  Hospital  Corps  Sept.   19,  1898. 
Hilton,  I.    N.,    Montrose,    111.,    Farmer,    transferred   from 

Company  I  to  Company  G,  Dec.  28, 
Hollingshead,  Jno.  R.,  Vandalia,  111.,  Moulder. 
Homan,  O.  H.,  Lafayette,  Ind.,  Clerk, 
Johnson,  F.  E.,  Vandalia,  111.,  Paper-maker. 
Kavanaugh,  H.  E.,  Springfield,  111.,  Lineman. 
Kimbro,  Jesse,  Smithboro,  111.,  Butcher. 
Kitchen,  John  W.,  Vandalia,  111.,  Brick-maker. 


I$6  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Klimper,  Charles  M.,  Ramsey,  111.,  Clerk;  mustered  injune 

17,  1898. 

Leonard,  F.,  Carlyle,  111.,   Teamster. 

Luther,  John  F. ,  Vandalia,  111.,  Farmer. 

Lawler,  A.  W.,  Vandalia,  111.,  Laborer;  mustered  in  June 
23,  1898. 

Mabry,  E.  K.,  Altamont,  III.,  Student. 

McLaren,  James  B.,  Carlyle,  111.,  Laborer;  died  at  Third 
Division  Hospital,  Seventh  Army  Corps,  of  typhoid 
fever,  at  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  Oct.,  27,  1898. 

Moore,  Jno.  H.,  Smithboro,  111.,  Farmer. 

Minor,  Henry,  Mulbery  Grove,  111.,  Laborer;  mustered  in 
June  18,  1898. 

McKnight,  C.  W.,  Ramsey,  111.,  Operator;  mustered  in 
June  1 8,  1898.  Transferred  to  United  States  Vol- 
unteer signal  corps  September  21,  1898. 

McKnight,  Jas.  A.,  New  Philadelphia,  Ohio,  Miner;  mus- 
tered in  June  17,  1898. 

Newberry,  Hugh,  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  Farmer. 

Oldham,  Jas.  E.,  Seneca,  Mo.,  Laborer. 

Overleese,  E.  L. ,  Vera,  111.,  Farmer. 

Pantry,  Thos. ,  Dexter,  111.,  Laborer;  discharged  in  Cuba 
April  4,  1899. 

Paul,  Baker,  Petersburg,  111.,  Tinner. 

Pummill,  L.  E.,  Vera,  111,  Farmer.  * 

Pollard,  W.   O.,   Vera,  111.,  Engineer. 

Pittman,  D.,  Brownstown,  111.,  Farmer. 

Perkins,  J.  W. ,  Mulbery  Grove,  Farmer;  mustered  in  June 

1 8,  1898. 

Ryan,  P.  H.,  Watson,  111.,  Laborer;  died  at  First  Division 
Hospital  Seventh  Army  Corps,  of  Malarial  fever, 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  Oct.  27,  1898. 

Robinson,  S.  E.,  Patoka,  111.,  Teacher;  mustered  in  June 
18,  1898. 


FOURTH   ILLINOIS.  157 

Rutledge,  J.  O.,  Vandalia,  111.  Teacher;  mustered  in  June 
23,  1898. 

Surley,  R.  D.,  Vera,  111.,  Student;  discharged  march  15, 
1899,  by  order  secretary  of  war. 

Sclichter,  J.  M.,  Carlyle,  111.,  Policeman;  discharged  Oct., 
1 8,  1898,  through  commanding  officer  Fourth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry. 

Sandy,  Benj.,  Vandalia,  111.,  Laborer. 

Shuck,  Jos.,  Shelbyville,  111.,  Barber;  Transferred  from 
Company  I  to  Company  E,  Jan.  18,  1899. 

Smith,  Herman,  Farina,  111.,  Harness-maker;  died  at 
Third  Division  Hospital  Seventh  Army  Corps,  Jack- 
sonville, Fla. ,  typhoid  fever,  Sept.  23,  1898. 

Smith,  Alma,  20,  Brownstown,  111.,  Painter. 

Stewart,  Thos. ,  24,   Vandalia,    111.,    Farmer. 

Snyder,  L.  F. ,  28,  Vandalia,  111.,  Railroader;  mustered  in 
June  20,  1898. 

Spraddling,  F.  E. ,  21,  Mulberry  Grove,  Farmer;  mustered 
in  June  18,  1898. 

Snyder,  Jno.  I.,  26,  Vandalia,  111.,  Banker;  mustered  in 
June  20,  1898. 

Troyer,  D..W.,  24,  Vera,  111.,  Stavejoiner. 

Tolbert,  T.  E.,  23,  Chapin,  111.,.  Farmer. 

Toothaker,  Chas.,  26,  Effingham,  111.,  Engineer;  dis- 
charged Feb.  1 6,  1899,  from  U.  S.  General  Hos- 
pital., Ft.  Monroe,  Va. 

Wilson,  Henry,  21,  Shobonier,  111.,  Teacher;  discharged 
on  disability,  Dec.  3,  1898. 

Walker,  Walter,  23,  Smithboro,  111.,  Laborer. 

Wright,  J.  H.,  21,  Mulberry  Grove,  111.,  Farmer;  mustered 
in  June  18,  1898. 

\Vashburn,  A.  L.,  28,  Vandalia,  111.,  Jeweler;  mustered  in 
June  17,  i 


158  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Zimmerman,  Elmer,  19,  Vandalia,  111.,  Student;  mustered 
in  June  20,  1898.  + 

Blackman,  W.  J.,  21,  Paris,  111.,  Clerk;  transferred  to  U. 
S.  Hosp.  Corps,  June  19,  1898. 

Hutchinson,  M.  A.,  25,  Mulberry  Grove,  111.,  Laborer; 
transferred  to  U.  S.  Hosp.  Corps,  June  19,  1898. 

Wiley,  Warren,  21,  Paris,  111.,  Salesman;  transferred  to 
U.  S.  Hosp.  Corps,  June  19,  1898. 

All  not  otherwise  distinguished  were  mustered  in  at  Spring- 
field, 111.,  May  20,  1898.  All  not  otherwise  referred 
to  as  discharged  were  mustered  out  at  Augusta,  Ga., 
May  2,  1899. 


COMPANY  K. 


ALBERT  OWEN  SEAMAN. 

First  Lieut.  Albert  Owen  Seaman  was  born  in  Green- 
ville, Illinois,  February  7,  1878,  and  lived  there  and  at- 
tended school  up  to  1894,  when  he  entered  Western  Mili- 
tary Academy,  and  attended  there  during  that  school  year 
and  was  promoted  to  first  sergeant  and  during  the  spring 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  artillery  section.  The  next 
year  he  attended  Gem  City  Business  College  and  graduated 
from  there  as  an  authorized  expert  accountant.  At  the 
first  call  for  troops  in  1898,  he  enlisted  in  the  Fourth  Illi- 
nois and  was  detailed  as  battalion  sergeant-major  First- 
Battalion,  which  position  he  held  up  to  February  ist,  when 
he  was  made  second  lieutenant  of  Company  K,  and  o  n 
March  ist  he  was  made  first  lieutenant  of  the  same  com- 
pany and  was  mustered  out  with  his  company  in  Augusta, 
Georgia. 

During  his  time  in  the  army  he  served  on  the  provost 
guard  under  Major  Harrison  as  quartermaster. 


PERLEY  J.   ROSE. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1878,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
Perley  J.  Rose,  was  born;  and  if  the  future  is  to  be  judged 
by  the  past,  his  is  the  opening  of  a  useful  life.  Having 
graduated  from  the  High  School  of  Litchfield,  Illinois,  with 
the  class  of  1896,  he  spent  the  school  year  of  1896  and 
1897  at  DePaw  University  at  Greencastle,  Indiana. 


CAPT.    DAVID    DAVIS. 


CAPT.    G.    L.    ZINK 


2D    LIEUT.     P.    J.     ROSE. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  l6l 

On  September  i,  1897,  he  was  employed  by  the  Big 
Four  railroad  as  clerk  and  served  in  that  capacity  until 
April  26,  1898.  Enlisted  as  second  sergeant  of  Company 
K,  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guards,  on  the  2Oth  of  May, 
1898,  and  on  March  18,  1899,  was  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant,  serving  his  company  as  such  until  mustered  out 
on  the  2nd  of  May,  1899,  not  having  reached  his  twenty- 
first  year. 


HISTORY  OF  COMPANY  K. 

Company  K  was  the  youngest  company  in  the  Illinois 
National  Guard  when  the  organization  was  called  to  Spring- 
fieln  in  April,  1898.  It  was  mustered  into  the  state  service 
at  Litchfield,  by  Captain  Ewert,  on  the  evening  of  Febru- 
ary 1 8,  just  three  days  after  the  destruction  of  the  Maine 
in  Havana  harbor. 

The  first  officers  of  the  company  were  Capt.  David! 
Davis,  First-Lieut.  George  L.  Zink  and  Second-Lieut, 
William  F.  La  Force,  all  of  whom  entered  the  service  of 
the  United  States  with  the  company. 

Loss  by  death:  William  D.  Souter,  of  Green  Cove 
Springs,  Florida,  who  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  his  home  in 
October,  1898;  Charles  S.  Kingsbury,  who  died  at  Third 
Division  Hospital,  at  Pananca  Park,  Florida,  after  a  short 
attack  of  typhoid;  and  Corpl.  Francis  E.  Green,  who  was 
drowned  while  bathing  in  a  small  stream  near  Camp  Co- 
lumbia, Havana  Province,  Cuba.  Souter  is  buried  at 
Green  Cove  Springs,  Florida;  Kingsbury  at  his  home  in 
Greenville,  Illinois;  and  Corporal  Green  is  at  rest  in  Elm- 
wood  cemetery  at  Litchfield. 

Captain  Davis  resigned  and  left  the  service  in  Febru- 
ary, 1899,  and  Lieutenant  La  Force  resigned  a  few  days 
11 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  163 

later.  Lieutenant  Zink  was  made  captain;  Serg.  A.  Owen 
Seaman,  first  lieutenant,  and  Serg.  Perley  J.  Rose,  second 
lieutenant. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  K. 

DAVIS,  DAVID,  Captain,  Litchfield,  111.;  resigned. 

ZINK,  GEORGE  L. ,  Captain,  Litchfield,  111. 

LAFORCE,  WILLIAM  F.,  First  Lieutenant,  Litchfield,  111.; 

resigned. 

SEAMAN,  A.  OWEN,  First  Lieutenant,  Greenville,  111. 
ROSE,  PERLEY  J.,  Secoifd  Lieutenant,  Litchfield,  111. 

SERGEANTS. 

Simmons,  Norton  A.,  First,  Litchfield,  111. 
Cripe,  Osa,  Quartermaster,  Girard,  111. 
Foulk,  Harry  C.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Schwartz,  Adolphus  A.,  Edwardsville,  111. 
Collins,  Joseph  U.,  Litchfield,  111. 
George,  Robert  J.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Farr,  George  R.,  Litchfield,  111. 

CORPORALS. 

Machler,  Francis  P.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Walters,  Nim  R. ,  Donnellson,  III. 
Scherer,  Luther  H.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Beck,  Henry  M.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Stearns,  Roy,   Litchfield,  111. 
Hughes,  Alfred,  Taylorville,  111. 
McBrain,  Leroy  J.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Stone,  Charles  U.,  Middletown,  111. 
Towey,  James  K. ,  Carlineville,  III. 


164  HISTORY    OF   THE 

Lee,  Robert  E.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Grubbs,  Harlan  P.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Green,  Francis  E. ,  Litchfield,  111. 
Cline,  Cullen  A.,  Litchfield,  111. 

MUSICIAN. 

Tromley,  Glen  E.,  Fairfield,  111. 

ARTIFICERS. 

Roberts,  Richard  E.,  Litchfield,. 111. 
Huber,  Charles  W.,  Litchfield,  111. 

WAGONER. 

Smith,  Horace,  Litchfield,  111. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen,  Elmer  E.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Baits,  William  D.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Boyd,  Guss  E.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Bailey,  Allen  W.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Bruce,  John  T.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Briggs,  Charles  W.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Burns,  Francis  M.,  Spring  Valley,  111. 
Boatman,  Jerry  E. ,  Carlineville,  111. 
Campbell,  Gilbert,  Litchfield,  111. 
Cave,  Chauncey  L.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Cole,  Frank  O. 
Cole,  Albert. 

Cox,  William  T.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Coffee,  Ollie,  Litchfield,  111. 
Cripe,  Asa.,  Girard,  111. 
Dalton,  Lin  L. ,  Athens,  111. 
Ducrow,  George,  Irving,  111. 
Davis,  Milton  E.,  Hornsby,  111. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  165 


Daub,  Harmon,  Effingham,  111. 
Ehrhard,  Fred  W.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Eichelroth,  Henry  W.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Edwards,  Amos,  Litchfield,  111. 
Edwards,  John  C.,  Jr.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Evans,  John,  Raymond,  111. 
Finley,  William,  Litchfield,  111. 
Ferguson,  Charles  E.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Froat,  Joseph  S.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Freelove,  Frank,  Litchfield,  111. 
Garrett,  John  T. ,  Greenville,  111. 
Guiser,  James,  Kinmundy,  111. 
Gable,  Thomas  H.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Harden,  William  J.,  New  Belin,  111. 
Hartman,  Amasa,   Middletown,  111. 
Hutchins,  Gilbert  L.,  Fairfield,  111. 
Howey,  Charles  W. ,  Barnett,  111. 
Harbaugh,  John  J.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Hanney,  James  B.,  Spring  Valley,  111. 
Hefley,  Charles,  Irving,  111. 
Huber,  Charles  W.,  Litchfield,   111. 
Jones,  Willis,  Litchfield,  111. 
Lane,  Pearl  E.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Mills,  James  R.,  Pana,  111. 
Moynihan,  William  H.,  Whitehall,  111. 
Martell,  August,  Alma,  111. 
Machler,  Harry  J.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Mays,  Frank,  Westfield,  111. 
Mercer,  William  L.,  Vera  Park,  111. 
Marsh,  Frank  E.,  Wagoner,  111. 
Moran,  Thomas  J.,  Spring  Valley,  111. 
Morlan,  Hal  J.,  Fairfield,  111. 
Moncravie,  James,  Irving,  111. 
Meyers,  Edward  F.,  Vandalia,  111. 


166  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Niccum,  Chip,  Farmersville,  111. 
Nesse,  Elliott,  Springfield,  Ohio. 
Newkirk,  Cyrus,  Effingham,  111. 
Nail,  Charles  E.,  Farmersville,  111. 
Owings,  Albert  C. ,  Litchfield,  111. 
Potter,  William,  New  Athens,  111.     . 
Pippin,  James  W. ,  Vandalia,  111.      , 
Ritchhart,  Charles,  Middletown,  111. 
Ripley,  Benjamin  J.,  Wagoner,  111. 
Roberts,  John  E.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Robinson,  William,  Decatur,  111. 
Sanders,  Edgar,  Litchfield,  111. 
Schoof,  Fritz,  Litchfield,  111. 
Seymour,   Bert,  Waverly,  111. 
Spence,  Charles  H.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Stacey,  Josiah,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
Stevenson,  William  C.,  Columbus,   Ind. 
Souter,  William  D.,  Jacksonville,  Fla. 
Tuttle,  Harry  S.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Thole,  Frank,   Litchfield,  111. 
Taulbee,  John  W.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Tate,  David  L.,  Vandalia,  111. 
Wiley,  John  C.,  Girard,  111. 
Williams,  Earl,  Rockbridge,  111. 
Whitenack,  David,  Litchfield,  111. 
Whitaker,  Louis  J.,  Litchfield,  111. 
Winningham,   Claud,  Meredosia,  111. 
Windsor,  Franklin  R. ,  Hornsby,  111. 
Zuber,  Henry  J.,  Litchfield,  111. 

The  muster  out  roll  of  this  company  having  been  lost 
at  Augusta,  Georgia,  by  the  aid  of  Captain  Davis  and 
others  we  have  been  enabled  to  prepare  the  above,  which, 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  1 67 

it  is  believed,  contains  the  names  of  all  who  were  con- 
nected with  the  organization  during  its  service  as  United 
States  Volunteers.  Yet  we  were  unable  to  ascertain  who 
were  discharged,  reduced  to  ranks  or  when  promoted. 


COMPANY  B. 


E.   W.   HERSH. 

Capt.  E.  W.  Hersh  commanded  Company  B  when 
it  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service,  and 
continued  in  that  capacity  until  March  18,  1899,  when  on 
account  of  continued  ill  health  he  resigned  his  commission 
and  returned  to  his  home. 

Captain  Hersh  was  born  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio,  Janu- 
ary 10,  1866,  just  when  the  smoke  of  battle  was  clearing 
away  from  over  our  lovely  land,  occasioned  by  the  civil  war. 

Removed  with  his  parents  to  Defiance,  Ohio,  where 
the  earlier  years  of  his  life  were  spent,  and  from  the  High 
schools  of  which  city  he  graduated.  He  is  also  a  graduate 
of  the  Chautauqua  Literary  and  Scientific  Circle,  being  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1892. 

During  the  month  of  February,  1888,  he  located  in 
Newton,  Illinois,  and  took  up  the  duties  of  a  stenographer 
and  law  clerk,  during  which  time  also  he  applied  himself 
Jto  the  stndy  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the 
year  1891,  when  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  this  his 
chosen  profession,  in  his  adopted  city  of  the  ' '  sucker  "  state, 
where  he  still  resides,  holding  the  position  of  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Hersh  &  Calvin,  lawyers  and  financial 
agents. 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


W.   A.    HOWELL. 

Capt.  W.  A.  Howell  was  born  in  Shawneetown,  Illi- 
nois, February  18,  1875,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  city.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  left  school 
and  entered  the  office  of  the  Gallatin  Democrat,  where  he 
learned  the  printer's  trade.  He  remained  in  this  office 
until  the  fall  of  1893,  when  he  went  to  Evansville,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  until  late  in  the  winter,  when  he 
returned  home,  where  he  remained  until  the  following 
August,  when  he  went  to  Newton  to  accept  the  position  of 
foreman  in  the  office  of  the  Newton  Press,  which  position 
he  gave  up  to  enter*  the  service  of  his  country.  He  became 
associated  with  the  Illinois  National  Guard  in  June,  1895, 
as  a  private,  was  soon  appointed  corporal,  and  in  May, 
1896,  was  appointed  to  sergeant,  which  position  he  held 
until  February,  1897,  when  he  was  elected  first  lieutenant. 
When  the  call  was  issued  for  volunteers,  April  26,  1898,  he 
went  with  his  company  and  was  mustered  into  the  volun- 
teer service  as  first  lieutenant.  When  Captain  Hersh 
resigned,  to  take  effect  March  18,  1899,  Lieutenant  Howell 
was,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  colonel,  appointed 
as  his  successor,  which  position  he  held  until  mustered  out 
of  the  service,  on  May  2. 


LYMAN  HARRIS. 

Lieut.  Lyman  Harris  is  a  native  of  the  little  city  of 
Newton,  situated  on  the  banks  of  Ambra  river,  where  he 
was  born.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  B,  Fourth 
Illinois  National  Guards,  in  March,  1893,  and  was  elected 
second  lieutenant  of  the  company,  May  27,  1895,  and  served 
in  that  rank  in  the  Illinois  National  Guards  during  its  his- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  17  I 

tory,  taking  part  in  the  strikes  service,  encampments  and 
other  occasions  when  the  regiment  was  called  out.  Was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  volunteer  service  with  the 
Third  Battalion,  holding  the  same  rank  until  March  18, 
1899,  when  he  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  and  worth- 
ily bore  that  rank  until  with  the  regiment  he  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service. 


HISTORY  OF  COMPANY  B. 

While  the  history  of  this  company  is  one  pecularly  its 
own,  and  somewhat  checkered,  yet  perhaps  in  the  main  not 
differing  greatly  from  that  of  some  of  its  associates  in  the 
regiment  of  which  it  has  been  a  component  part  during  the 
great  part  of  its  history. 

Its  organization  as  an  Illinois  National  Guard  was 
effected  in  Newton,  Jasper  county,  Illinois,  by  the  electing 
and  commissioning  of  B.  W.  Harris  as  captain,  David  Trex- 
ler,  first  lieutenant,  and  E.  B.  Garrell,  second  lieutenant, 
and  mustered  into  the  Illinois  National  Guard  service  Jan- 
uary 15,  1 88 1,  as  Company  B,  of  the  Eighth  Illinois,  in 
which  relation  it  continued  until  1890,  when  the  Eight  regi- 
ment was  changed  to  the  Fourth,  in  which  this  company 
held  its  position  during  the  remainder  of  its  history  in  the 
National  Guard  service.  By  the  following  it  will  be  seen 
that  frequent  changes  took  place  in  the  commissioned  offi- 
cers of  this  company  during  this  period  of  its  career: 

Capt.  W.  B:  Harris  commanded  the  company  until 
September  i,  1888,  when  H.  A.  Faller  was  commissioned 
and  took  the  place  he  vacated.  The  names  of  lieutenants 
holding  commissions  during  the  period  above  referred  to, 
and  date  of  their  commission  were  not  at  hand  when  this 
volume  went  to  press.  E.  W.  Hersh  was  commissioned 


172  HISTORY    OF    THE 

second  lieutenant  March  15,  1889,  and  as  first  lieutenant 
June  26,  1891,  and  as  captain,  taking  the  place  of  Capt. 
H.  A.  Faller,  January  8,  1894.  Lyman  Harris  was  com- 
missioned second  lieutenant  May  27,  1895,  an^  W.  A. 
Howell  as  first  lieutenant  March  12,  1897,  who  was  com- 
missioned captain,  to  take  the  place  of  Capt.  E.  W.  Hersh, 
who  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health,  March  18,  1899,  and 
held  the  position  until  mustered  out  of  the  United  States 
service  May  2,  1899. 

As  a  part  of  the  National  Guard  this  company  has  no 
shame  in  confronting  its  record.  ,  Whether  at  the  annual 
encampment  or  when  called  upon  to  maintain  public  peace 
and  order,  and  the  good  name  of  our  soldierly,  warrior  state. 
In  this  line  of  duty  it  took  its  place  in  the  suppression  and 
control  of  the  railroad  strike  or  "tie  up"  of  East  St.  Louis, 
in  1887,  also  of  the  great  Chicago  strike  in  1894,  growing 
out  of  what  is  known  as  the  Pullman  strike,  which  resulted 
in-such  great  loss  of  property,  and  finally  the  proclamation 
of. President  Cleveland,  putting  the  city  under  martial  law. 

The  strain  under  which  the  people  of  the  United 
States  had  been  for  months,  because  of  increasing  diploma- 
tic tension  between  this  government  and  Spain,  had  not 
been  without  its  effects  on  the  men  of  this  company, 
and  in.  consequence  thereof  every  reasonable  effort  was 
made  to  have  it  as  thoroughly  fitted  for  an  emergency  as 
time  would  admit.  Hence,  when  orders  by  wire  from 
Governor  Tanner  reached  Captain  Hersh  at  2  A.  M.  April 
25,  1898,  to  report  with  his  company  at  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, immediately,  its  full  meaning  was  comprehended  and 
preparations  for  compliance  therewith  were  carried  forward 
with  alacrity.  This,  coupled  with  the  fact  that  the  men 
had  bivoucked  in  the  armory  for  several  nights,  enabled 
the  captain  to  have  all  in  readiness  within  sixteen  hours.  In 
the  evening  the  armojy  was  filled  with  friends,  when  Hon. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 

Hale  Johnson,  Judge  Gibson  and  Reverend  Johnson  ad- 
dressed the  company  with  words  of  council,  encourage- 
ment and  assurance  of  the  good  will  of  those  from  whom 
they  were  going  out.  About  10  P.  M.  we  boarded  the 
north  bound  train  and  moved  out  amid  the  good  byes  and 
farewell  greetings  of  friends  on  our  journey  to  the  "hub  of 
our  state, "  where  after  some  four  hours  delay  on  the  route, 
we  landed  at  noon  on  the  26th,  thirty-two  hours  after  the 
order  was  received  from  the  Governor,  ovations  having 
been  the  order  at  every  city  passed  through  on  the  way. 

On  arrival  at  Springfield  we  marched  at  once  to  the 
fair  grounds,  which  was  designated  as  Camp  Tanner,  where 
we  were  assigned  quarters  in  one  of  the  commodious  cattle 
barns. 

Here  began  in  true  fashion  our  soldier  experience, 
growing  out  of  what  seemed  to  be  unavoidable  causes,  want 
of  sufficient  clothing  and  bedding  to  meet  the  raw  chilly 
weather  induced  by  the  rains  during  this  period. 

After  weeks  of  anxious  waiting,  on  the  i/th  of  May  we 
were  ordered  to  the  state  house,  where,  under  the  skillful 
eye  and  trained  mind  of  the  examining  board,  under  Sur- 
geon-General Sternberg,  of  the  State  Militia,  we  were 
passed  through  the  ordeal  of  physical  examination  to  deter- 
mine our  fitness  to  meet  the  standard  of  a  United  States 
soldier.  The  maximum  strength  of  the  company  in  the 
National  Guard  being  one  hundred,  and  our  company  having 
been  recruited  to  one  hundred  seventeen,  gave  us  a  neat 
surplus  on  which  to  work  reductions.  Three  of  these  had 
been  honorably  discharged,  still  leaving  one  hundred  four- 
teen men  on  the  roll  as  state  guards  a't  this  time. 

But  as  the  companies  in  the  new  United  States  service 
were  restricted  to  eighty-four  men,  we  still  had  a  surplus 
of  men  to  return  to  the  civil  occupations  of  life.  On  the 
2Oth  of  May  these  eighty-four  selected  men  took  the  oath  as 


174  HISTORY   OF    THE 

United  States  soldiers,  administered  by  Captain  Roberts,  of 
the  regular  cavalry,  and  were  duly  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  to  be  fully  equipped  and  moved  where  they 
might  render  efficient  aid  in  the  conflict  now  being  waged. 
Our  equipment  was  not  of  the  most  modern,  as  we  carried 
the  Springfield  rifle  of  the  1884  model,  though  by  no  means 
antiquated  ordnance.  The  monotonous  routine  which  had 
occupied  us  for  the  past  four  weeks  did  not  continue  much 
longer,  for  on  the  25th  of  May,  about  8  P.  M.,  orders  were 
received  by  the  regiment  to  report  at  Tampa,  Florida, 
immediately,  which  was  welcome  news  to  the  boys,  as  was 
evidenced  by  their  shouts  that  echoed  through  the  entire 
camp.  The  following  day  our  baggage  was  loaded  and  by 
4  P.  M.  all  were  aboard  and  the  long  ride  to  the  southern 
land  was  begun,  leaving  camp,  visiting  friends  we  loved 
and  scenes  we  had  learned  to  detest,  to  joyfully  speed  on 
our  mission  of  mercy.  All  went  "merry  as  a  marriage 
bell, "  every  city  through  which  we  passed  ovating  the  boys 
in  blue.  In  this  connection  we  may  mention  a  coincidence, 
though  carrying  with  it  no  import,  that  is:  The  officers  of 
this  company,  on  leaving  Springfield,  were  assigned  to  a 
sleeper  named  Springfield,  and  on  arrival  at  Jacksonville 
camped  in  one  of  its  suburbs  named  Springfield.  The  new 
recruits  to  bring  the  company  up  to  its  full  quota  of  one 
hundred  three  enlisted  men  passed  their  physical  examina- 
tion at  Effingham  and  were  sworn  into  the  United  States 
service  at  same  place  by  Capt.  H.  S.  Parker,  regimental 
adjutant,  on  June  i8th  to  23d,  and  at  once  started  for 
Camp  Cuba  Libra,  the  last  of  them  reaching  their  destina- 
tion on  the  26th  of  June. 

In  giving  the  history  of  this  company  during  its  stay 
at  Jacksonville,  we  enter  upon  the  most  important  period 
of  its  career.  Whatever  the  impression  created  by  first 
observations,  as  to  the  desirability  of  our  quarters  in  Camp 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  175 

Cuba  Libre,  our  minds  were  fully  disabused  by  the  experi- 
ence of  later  days.  We  entered  the  camp  in  excellent 
health  and  buoyant  spirits,  and  mantained  it  until  the  rainy 
season  had  so  far  progressed  as  to  change  the  whole  aspect 
of  the  camp.  It  was  here  that  the  seeds  were  sown  broad- 
cast, that  yielded  their  harvest  of  bitter  fruits  a  little  later 
on.  The  location  of  the  third  battalion  was  near  depres- 
sions in  the  earth  that  filled  with  water  from  the  heavy 
rains,  making  it  the  most  undesirable  as  well  as  unhealthy 
portion  of  the  entire  camp,  breeding  malaria  and  fever 
under  the  hot  tropical  sun.  While  Company  B  had  no 
general  scourge  of  sickness  in  this  camp,  yet  those  who 
were  affected  became  very  sick,  necessitating  the  best  of 
care,  which  in  order  to  render,  hospitals  were  erected  of 
temporary  character  and  the  proper  nurses  selected  to  give 
them  the  needed  attention.  To  this  most  important  and 
responsible  duty  George  Anderson,  and  Eugene  Files  as 
assistant,  were  detailed,  and  took  charge  of  the  hospital, 
fitted  up  in  this  company,  yet  with  the  best  of  care  that 
could  be  rendered,  when  the  regiment  was  removed  to  the 
camp  at  Panama  Park,  in  August,  sickness  had  so  increased 
in  our  ranks,  that  more  than  an  ambulance  load  were  un- 
able to  get  there  without  the  aid  of  this  excellent  vehicle. 
But  for  the  want  of  proper  facilities  to  make  them  comfort- 
able in  their  new  quarters,  they  necessarily  had  to  submit 
to  and  share  in  the  hardships  that  fell  to  the  lot  of  the 
able  bodied  of  the  company.  There  were  times  when  they 
had  to  lie  in  their  tents  in  the  full  glare  of  the  sun,  while 
at  others  no  precaution  would  prevent  the  rain  from  satu- 
rating their  beds  by  beating  through  the  tents  or  blowing 
in  around  the  sides. 

But  no  time  was  lost  in  getting  up  another  company 
hospital,  and  into  which  our  sick  were  at  once  moved, 
while  the  best  of  care  was  rendered  that  circumstances 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


would  admit.  To  the  aid  of  the  former  appointment, 
George  Anderson,  re-christened  by  the  boys  "Major" 
Anderson,  lent  untiring  assistance  in  the  care  of  and  minis- 
trations to  the  sick,  —  at  times  carrying  his  cot  and  blankets 
about  when  needed  at  night,  and  stealing  what  sleep  he 
could  under  the  circumstances.  But  it  remained  for  the 
latter  days  of  August  to  develop  the  awful  scourge  that 
was  creeping  upon  us  in  this  climate  and  unhealthful  camp, 
and  which  continued  until  the  company  seemed  on  the 
verge  of  being  wrecked.  So  general  was  the  demoraliza- 
tion, that  from  the  middle  of  August  until  the  company 
entered  upon  provost  duty  in  the  city  of  Jacksonville, 
it  had  only  thirty-two  men  out  of  one  hundred  and  two 
that  were  considered  really  fit  for  duty.  And  during 
these  weeks  of  suffering  the  men  able  for  duty  were  placed 
on  guard  one  day  and  the  next  on  "  fatigue."  It  was  dur- 
ing this  time,  also,  that  General  Alger,  secretary  of  war, 
paid  a  visit  to  Camp  Cuba  Libre,  and,  in  the  grand  review 
that  was  held  in  his  honor,  this  company,  whose  record 
was  among  the  best,  could  only  place  twenty-six  men  in 
the  line  who  were  at  all  able  to  participate,  and  among 
these  were  the  guards,  and  even  the  cook,  who  had  been 
ordered  to  clean  up  and  aid  in  swelling  the  numbers  to 
their  largest  proportions.  At  other  times,  in  division  re- 
views, as  few  as  thirteen  men,  including  the  guide,  could 
take  part,  and  he  the  right  guide,  at  that.  The  same 
could  be  truthfully  stated  as  to  the  daily  dress  parades  in 
which  the  company  took  part. 

During  our  sojourn  in  camp  "Cuba  Libre"  the  boys 
of  the  company  conceived  the  idea  of  surprising  their  cap- 
tain, and  accordingly  a  fine  sword  was  purchased,  and  on  or 
about  the  ist  of  September,  Captain  Hersh  was  duly  made 
the  recipient  of  the  same,  as  a  mark  of  respect  from  the 
men  of  his  command. 


FOURTH   ILLINOIS.  1/7 

It  was  while  at  this  camp  our  company  was  detailed 
on  special  duty  for  nine  days,  that  of  patrol  guard  in  the 
country,  a  duty  in  which  they  acquitted  themselves  so  well 
as  to  win  the  unstinted  commendation  of  their  colonel  as 
well  also  that  of  Brigadier-General  Bancroft.  But  the 
rainy  season  came  upon  us  and  we  were  compelled  to  suffer 
many  discomforts  on  account  of  it.  Not  the  least  among 
them  that  of  the  camps  being  covered  several  times  with 
water  reaching  a  depth  of  three  feet  between  Company's  B 
and  K  and  the  place  where  they  assembled  to  partake  of 
hash,  over  which  they  constructed  a  rustic  bridge  of  poles. 
With  the  other  companies  of  the  regiment  we  were  sent  to- 
Panama  Park,  where  during  our  stay  we  had  the  experience 
of  sickness,  which  so  sorely  afflicted  us,  at  times  so  deplet- 
ing our  ranks  as  to  unfit  us  for  our  part  in  the  regular  duties 
in  the  camp.  It  was  during  this  time  we  lost  comrade 
Charles  V.  Stark,  the  only  death  that  occurred  during  our 
term  of  service. 

During  these  sore  straits  through  which  we  were 
called  upon  to  pass,  it  was  thought  wise  and  best  to  re- 
move as  far  as  possible  the  convalescing  from  the  discour- 
aging scenes  and  conditions,  and  accordingly  ten  men  from- 
our  ranks  were  granted  sick  furloughs,  and  sent  to  their 
homes.  Reaching  Newton,  our  home  town,  Ed  Albright, 
Ed  Arnold  and  Lowell  Houchin  were  found  still  unable  to 
get  off  the  train,  and,  consequently,  were  carried  by  gentle 
hands  to  their  homes  for  kindly  care  and  tender  nursing. 

But,  by  experience  or  otherwise,  level  heads  were  led 
to  believe  that  a  change  from  these  environments  and  con- 
ditions to  that  of  the  city  would  be  beneficial  to  the  better- 
ing of  conditions,  which  seemed  to  linger  and  cling  with 
unrelenting  grasp,  and  accordingly  we,  with  our  regiment, 
were  ordered  on  provost  duty,  and  transferred  to  the  city 

under  the  command  of  Maj.  Russel  B.  Harrison,  provost 
12 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


marshal.  The  rapid  change  to  good  health,  which  soon 
set  in,  proved  the  wisdom  of  the  change,  for  almost  from 
the  beginning  a  perceptible  improvement  took  place,  and 
continued  until  the  company  reached  a  standard  of  health 
which  was  never  lost  or  even  lowered.  Hence  with  the  re- 
turn of  our  wanted  health  and  vigor  there  was  a  correspond- 
ing return  to  the  depleted  ranks,  until  the  incomers  from 
furloughs  brought  our  line  up  very  near  to  its  former 
strength,  reaching  ninety-five,  while  some  had  been  granted 
discharges  as  further  unfit  for  duty  or  more  needed  at  home. 
But  with  a  few  absent  on  leave  and  one  in  the  division 
hospital,  we  were  only  able  to  line  up  with  eighty-six  men 
fit  for  duty. 

Meantime  we  were  sent  to  Savannah,  Georgia,  to  con- 
tinue provost  duty  after  the  "well  done"  fashion  of  our 
work  on  this  line  in  Jacksonville.  It  was  here,  on  Thanks- 
giving day,  we  had  the  expressed  opinion  of  the  surgeon 
that  we  were  in  better  health  than  any  company  in  the  reg- 
iment, while  our  ranks  were  not  surpassed  as  to  fullness. 

Our  location  at.  Thunderbolt,  in  a  sense,  detached  us 
from  our  regimental  headquarters,  and  necessarily  from 
certain  advantages  enjoyed  by  other  companies.  Under 
these  conditions,  with  the  experience  of  the  past  lingering 
in  our  minds,  it  was  thought,  not  only  prudent  but  wise,  to 
be  ready  for  any  emergency  that  might  arise  similar  to  that 
of  our  Panama  Park  experience.  Therefore  "  Major"  An- 
derson, who  was  still  company  nurse,  and  had  to  a  very 
great  extent  those  matters  in  charge,  seen  to  it  that  an 
emergency  supply  of  medicine  was  at  hand,  and  accord- 
ingly he  was  furnished  with  no  stinted  amount  of  such 
remedies  as  the  wisdom  of  the  surgeons  suggested  as  proper, 
and  especially  since  he  had  proven  himself  competent  to 
handle  them.  After  our  location  here,  for  a  week  or  two 
one  of  the  regimental  surgeons  made  a  daily  visit  to  the 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


camp,  but  as  he  discovered  the  qualifications  of  our  nurse 
to  handle  simple  remedies  and  the  ability  of  the  men  to 
care  for  their  health,  he  lessened  his  visits,  trusting  to  our 
14  Major  "  for  the  daily  sick  report,  as  well  as  other  details 
in  connection  with  the  work  in  hand. 

From  this  point  we  were  ordered  to  report  to  Major 
Russel  B.  Harrison  for  provost  duty  in  the  city  of  Jackson- 
ville, a  change  that  proved  very  conducive  to  the  health 
of  the  company. 

In  this  duty  Company  B  was  assigned  to  district  num- 
ber five  with  company  quarters  at  foot  of  Ocean  street, 
while  its  headquarters  were  in  the  third  story  of  the  Mo- 
hawk building  on  Bay  street. 

This  work  came  to  a  close  on  the  2ist  of  October, 
when  at  12:30  P.  M.  we  started  with  our  battalion  for 
Savannah,  Georgia,  to  follow  the  same  line  of  duty  in  that 
city,  when  we  located  at  Thunderbolt,  a  suburb,  some  four 
miles  out,  and  connected  by  electric  railway.  At  this  place 
are  the  docks  of  the  oyster  growers  and  fisheries,  and  quite 
a  resort. 

Arriving  after  dark,  we  had  little  regard  for  regulations 
in  pitching  tents,  leaving  all  the  finer  details  of  engineer- 
ing for  a  time  more  suitable  for  seeing  the  point  —  i.  e.,  the 
point  of  the  compass,  and  allignment  of  tent  poles.  But 
on  the  morn  the  finer  details  were  looked  after  and  the 
work  of  cleaning  and  beautifying  was  carried  forward  until 
our  camp,  located  in  a  beautiful  grove,  overlooking  War- 
saw Sound,  being  thirty  feet  above  it,  became  the  pride  of 
the  one  thousand  villagers  who  occupy  the  homes  at  this 
point.  The  conduct  of  the  company  was  such  as  to  win 
their  good  will  to  the  extent  that  they  seemed  to  think 
they  had  a  kind  of  claim  on  us,  often  referring  to  as  "  their 
soldiers."  Nor  were  they  slack  in  doing  all  that  was  reas- 
onable to  increase  our  comfort  and  happiness.  To  the 


l8O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

point  we  look  back  and  see  one  of  the  brightest  oases  in  all 
our  army  experiences,  and  one  that  sank  deep,  /.  e.,  into 
our  stomachs,  making  some  lasting,  impressions  on  our 
minds,  perhaps  on  account  of  the  radical  contrast  between 
common  army  grub  and  the  delicacies  prepared  by  the 
deft  hands  of  fair  ladies.  This  very  exceptional  experience 
occurred  on  the  24th  of  November,  Thanksgiving  Day, 
when  about  twenty  ladies  of  Savannah  besieged  our  camp 
with  well  laden  baskets  of  turkey  and  other  rich  viands, 
with  which  they  loaded  a  long  table  in  our  company  street 
and  invited  us  to  partake  to  our  hearts  content,  while  they 
untiringly  served. 

To  say  we  did  true  soldierly  justice  on  this  occasion  is 
putting  it  as  mildly  as  truth  will  admit,  for  our  very  "  teeth 
had  been  fairly  made  to  water, "  as  the  delicate  odor  came 
from  the  company  cook  tent,  which  the  ladies  had  captured 
for  putting  the  finishing  touches  on  some  of  the  dainties, 
while  our  eyes  fairly  danced  at  the  profusion  that  was 
crowning  the  table.  No  we  will  never  forget  that 
day  unless  it  be  when  we  gather  our  feet  with  those  of 
loved  ones  under  some  well  laden  table  in  our  own  far 
away  home  land.  True  we  bestowed  our  gratitude  in 
lavish  measure  in  return,  and  also  about  all  the  badges 
possessed  by  the  company,  on  these  fair  ones  who  had  the 
courage  to  undertake  the  capture  of  our  camp.  While 
Company  B  generally  regards  the  days  spent  at  Panama 
Park  as  their  darkest,  they  are  equally  unanimous  in  pro- 
nouncing these  of  provost  duty  at  Thunderbolt  as  those 
amongst  the  brightest  and  happiest  of  their  army  experi- 
ence. But  such  conditions  too  long  enjoyed  might  not 
prove  conducive  to  good  soldiery,  therefore  on  the  second 
day  of  December  the  authorities  over  us  ordered  the  sec- 
ond battalion  into  camp  southeast  of  the  city,  and  Com- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  l8l 

pany  B   found   itself  again  facing  the  routine  duties   of  a 
military  camp. 

From  here  on  the  3d  of  January,  1899,  we  embarked 
on  the  Mobile  and  sailed  for  Cuba  with  our  regiment,  and 
camped  six  miles  northwest  of  Havana,  near  the  sea  coast, 
where,  as  a  part  of  the  army  of  occupation  we  did  the  work 
assigned  us,  as  well  as  do  our  part  in  the  capture  of 
souvenirs,  to  bear  home  as  trophies  of  our  service.  Dur- 
ing our  stay  in  Cuba,  March  18,  Capt.  E.  W.  Hersh,  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health,  felt  constrained  to  resign  his  position, 
which  action  was  accepted  by  the  war  department,  and  he 
was  released  from  the  command  of  his  company;  the  va- 
cancy thus  caused  was  filled  by  the  appointing  and  com- 
missioning of  our  young  and  popular  first  lieutenant,  W. 
A.  Howell,  which  gave  place  for  the  advance  of  another 
very  worthy  young  man,  Lyman  Harris,  who  was  regularly 
promoted  to  rank  of  first  lieutenant  and  Sergeant  Fred  S. 
Barker,  whose  career  proved  his  fitness,  was  commissioned 
and  inducted  into  the  office  of  second  lieutenant.  Tuesday, 
April  4,  at  9:30  A.  M.,  our  battalion  was  ordered  to  em- 
bark for  its  return  to  the  states,  following  the  first  which 
had  just  left  camp,  an  order  that  required  no  official  coer- 
cion on  the  part  of  Company  B  to  have  it  executed,  for 
soon  we  were  on  our  "  march  to  the  sea,"  through  clouds 
of  limestone  dust,  at  times  obscuring  the  men  six  feet  away, 
while  the  sun  poured  his  rays  upon  us  at  the  rate  of  ninety 
degrees  in  the  shade.  While  the  city  of  Havana,  whose 
streets  we  must  traverse  some  two  miles,  was  more  free 
from  dust,  yet  their  narrow  limits  and  cobble-stone  pave- 
ments were  a  doubtful  improvement,  at  least  as  to  temp- 
erature, still  the  farewells  in  broken  English  that  came 
from  Cubans  as  we  passed,  was  construed  as  of  most  kindly 
feelings  toward  the  departing  American  soldiers.  Five  o'clock 
finds  us  on  the  San  Jose  docks,  watching  the  retreating 


1 82  HISTORY    OF    THE 

tugs  that  bore  the  first  battalion  to  its  boat  at  anchor  in 
the  bay.  Before  sunset  we  were  outside  the  harbor  in 
conformity  to  harbor  laws,  comfortably  located  aboard  the 
Yarmouth,  which  after  receiving  her  cargo  outside  the  bay 
at  8  o'clock  began  the  journey  to  the  states,  reaching  Mul- 
let Key,  twenty-five  miles  off  Port  Tampa,  at  sundown  on 
the  5th  and  anchored  for  the  night,  which  was  a  boon  to 
the  seasick  soldier.  On  the  morning  of  the  6th  the  Whit- 
ney came  up  in  her  creeping  movement  bringing  the  First 
Battalion  Regimental  Band  and  staff,  having  been  out- 
stripped some  sixteen  hours  by  our  noble  ship.  About 
dark  of  the  6th  inst.,  Company  B  was  taken  ashore  on 
Egmont  Key,  the  government  quarantine  station,  near  our 
stopping  place  of  the  evening  before,  and  with  Company  D 
entered  the  tents  in  detention  camp,  which  were  in  waiting 
for  us. 

On  the  morning  of  the  7th  we  were  visited  with  a 
heavy  rain  and  wind  storm,  which  soon  proved  that  while 
we  were  favored  above  others  in  not  having  to  erect  tents, 
we  were  "out  of  luck  "  in  having  tents  through  which  the 
rain  sifted  under  the  pressure  of  the  strong  wind,  wetting 
the  floors  until  we  could  scarcely  find  a  spot  on  which  to 
lay  our  blankets.  Under  such  circumstances,  cooking  out 
of  doors  was  almost  out  of  the  question,  hence  meals  were 
almost  conspicuous  for  their  absence.  But  our  commissary- 
sergeant  deserves  great  credit  for  the  manner  in  which  he 
met  these  difficulties,  although  he  could  not  entirely  coun- 
teract them.  All  and  in  all,  our  stay  on  this  island  was 
anything  but  desirable,  and  consequently  we  hailed  with 
no  little  degree  of  pleasure  the  early  dawn  of  Monday,  the 
loth,  when  we  boarded  the  little  bay  steamer,  with  the 
other  company's  band  and  regimental  officers,  and  hastened 
away  for  Port  Tampa,  where  by  4  P.  M.,  we  were  pulling 
out  on  the  third  section  of  the  train  for  Savannah,  Georgia, 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  183 

from  which  an  order,  received  on  the  way,  turned  us  to  the 
camps  lying  near  Augusta,  Georgia,  adding  another  disap- 
pointment to  the  many  preceding,  and  surely  if  we  had 
been  a  camel  this  would  have  come  near  breaking  our 
strong  backbone.  But  we  endured  it  all,  and  landed  in 
Camp  McKenzie,  west  of  Augusta,  about  4  P.  M.  of  the  i  ith 
of  April,  and  were  highly  pleased  with  accommodations 
that  awaited  in  this  well-fitted  camp. 

A.  W.  Cone  was  detailed  as  one  of  the  regimental 
clerks,  in  which  capacity  he  served  several  months  during 
the  period  we  spent  in  Florida;  and  was  again  detailed  on 
same  duty  for  some  weeks  while  in  Camp  Columbia,  Cuba, 
and  when  not  thus  on  detailed  duty  he  acted  in  the  capacity 
of  company  clerk.  Private  C.  H.  Beggs  was  detailed 
along  with  others  from  the  regiment,  to  clear  off  and  con- 
struct a  rifle  range  for  the  practice  of  marksmanship.  But 
during  his  first  day's  service  he  met  with  a  painful  accident, 
having  his  shoulder  dislocated*and  collar  bone  broken  by  a 
falling  tree.  To  fill  the  vacancy  on  the  force  caused  by 
this  mishap,  C.  S.  Goff  was  put  in  his  place,  putting  in 
faithful  time  from  June  27  until  July  25,  1898,  only  relin- 
quishing his  job  when  it  became  his  duty  to  go  on  patrol 
guard,  and  that  only  two  days  before  the  range  was  com- 
pleted. Only  one  detail  from  our  regiment  were  privileged 
to  use  it.  The  men  of  this  detail  were  taken  a  limited 
number  from  each  company.  One  of  the  detail  from  this 
company  was  Jerry  Allen,  who  won  the  laurels  over  all 
competitors  by  making  the  highest  score  up  to  that  date, 
breaking  all  records  in  the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  thus  car- 
rying off  the  championship  with  a  score  of  eighty-five  points 
out  of  a  possible  hundred.  Private  Boggs  was  also  placed 
on  the  permanent  detail  of  Major  Harrison  during  the  entire 
time  of  our  service  on  provost  duty  in  Florida.  During 
our  sojourn  in  the  island  another  of  our  privates  was  hon- 


1 84  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ored  by  being  permanently  detailed.  This  time  it  fell  to 
the  lot  of  Ira  Hickson  to  go  on  Major  Harrison's  force  of 
provost  guards,  in  which  capacity  he  served  so  faithfully 
and  well  as  to  receive  from  the  major  a  recommendation 
for  good  character  and  gentlemanly  conduct.  Dave  Adams, 
another  private,  was  placed  on  duty  with  the  signal  corps, 
and  while  this  term -of  service  was  brief,  yet  it  was  at  a 
time  when  the  duties  were  numerous  and  demanded  heavy 
outlays  of  energy  and  effort,  it  being  near  the  time  of  our 
departure  for  Cuba.  On. the  ist  of  January,  1899,  Private 
Clinton  Gibson  was  permanently  detailed  to  guard  "duty  at 
First  Division  headquarters,  and  served  in  that  capacity 
until  called  back  to  the  regiment  on  the  4th  of  March,  in 
order  to  accompany  his  comrades  to  the  point  of  muster 
out.  It  was  his  to  win  the  distinction  over  his  comrades 
of  being  the  first  man  of  the  company  to  set  his  foot  on 
Cuban  soil.  And  as  the  men  of  this  regiment  were 
accustomed  to  good  bread, 'it  was  well  to  have  some  one 
look  after  that  interest  who  understood  this  branch  of  the 
culinary  art,  and  accordingly  Private  Neal  Weeks  was  de- 
tailed to  the  regimental  bakery  and  given  the  honored 
position  of  chief  baker.  G.  W.  Boggs  also  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  serving  in  this  branch  of  the  service  while  in  Cuba. 
From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  the  make-up  of  Company  B 
was  of  the  stuff  that  can  be  relied  upon  in  the  hour  of  need, 
and  only  desired  the  privilege  of  giving  evidence  as  a  body 
of  their  courage  and  ability  in  the  many  arduous  duties 
that  fall  to  the  soldier's  lot  on  the  field  of  carnage.  , 

During  the  trying  illness  of  Corporal  Hinman  from 
typhoid  fever,  while  it  raged  as  an  epidemic  in  our  camp 
at  Panama  Park,  Private  W.  E.  McClure,  by  consent  of 
his  captain,  volunteered  to  nurse  him,  and  at  once  repaired 
to  the  third  division  hospital,  where  his  patient  awaited  his 
arrival.  Another  incident,  illustrating  his  self-sacrificing 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  185 

spirit,  occurred  during  our  sty  in  Cuba,  as  reported  by  the 
Times  of  Cuba,  a  Havana  daily:  "Tuesday  morning, 
while  bathing  near  the  railroad  bridge  east  of  Marianao,  a 
member  of  the  Fourth  Virginia  Regiment  had  a  narrow 
escape  from  drowning,  and  was  saved  by  one  of  his  com- 
panions, William  McClure,  of  Company  B,  of  the  Fourth 
Illinois.  A  good-sized  party  was  in  the  water  when  one  of 
them,  whose  name  we  were  unable  to  learn,  was  seized 
with  cramps  and  became  entirely  helpless.  McClure,  who 
is  a  fine  swimmer,  went  to  the  rescue  of  the  drowning  man, 
and,  after  a  hard  struggle,  he  swam  with  the  limp  body  a 
distance  of  more  than  twenty-five  feet  into  shallow  water. 
McClure  was  almost  exhausted  from  the  tremendous  efforts 
made  to  save  his  comrade,  and  it  is  fortunate  that  the  dis- 
tance from  shore  was  no  greater,  as  in  that  case  possibly 
both  would  have  been  lost.  After  reaching  shore,  strong 
hands  carried  the  nearly  drowned  man  to  camp,  where  he 
speedily  recovered  from  the  cramps  that  almost  cost  him 
his  life." 

The  health  record  of  Company  B  during  the  occupancy 
of  Cuba,  was  not  second  to  any  in  the  regiment;  but  hav- 
ing the  smallest  number  on  the  sick  report  rather  placed  it 
at  the  head  of  the  line  in  this  respect.  This  perhaps  could 
be  accounted  for,  at  least  in  part,  from  the  aversion  of  our 
men  to  being  on  the  sick  roll  and  that  of  having  a  medical 
adviser  of  some  competency  in  their  ranks,  as  well  as  the 
belief  in,  and  living  up  to  it,  that  it  was  better  to  take 
medicine  to  avert  disease  than  to  cure  it.  Thus  having  the 
remedies  and  the  man  at  hand  to  administer  them,  those 
reporting  to  the  regimental  hospital  were  very  few.  And 
it  is  but  just  to  say  here,  that  this  man,  Geo.  Anderson, 
whose  labors  were  so  untiring  and  valuable  in  his  company, 
was  an  humble  private,  who  declined  an  unsolicited  trans- 
fer from  his  camp  to  the  First  Division  Hospital  in  the 


1 86     .  HISTORY    OF    THE 

island,  when  promotion  to  rank  for  efficiency  was  awaiting 
him,  preferring  to  remain  with  those  to  whom  he  had  min- 
istered and  with  whom  he  had  passed  through  the  dark 
days  of  affliction  at  Panama  Park. 

Only  one  death  occurred  in  this  company  during  the 
entire  time  it  was  in  the  service  of  the  United  States.  This 
was  Charles  V.  Starks,  who  died  September  3,  1898,  at 
the  Third  Division  Hospital  in  Camp  Cuba  Libre. 

Nothing  out  of  the  ordinary  occurred  during  our  stay 
in  Camp  McKenzie,  which  had  any  special  reference  to  this 
company,  except  that  on  the  i6th  of  April,  seven  privates 
and  three  corporals  were  detailed  on  provost  duty  in  the 
city  of  Augusta,  from  which  they  were  relieved  on  the  2/th, 
giving  them  time  to  perpare  for  the  muster  out.  •  On  the 
22d  of  the  same  month,  the  date  on  which  the  Third  Geor- 
gia volunteers  were  mustered  out,  Captain  Howell,  with 
one  sergeant,  two  corporals  and  twenty-five  men,  was  de- 
tailed by  Colonel  Swift  to  act  as  provost  guard  in  their 
camp,  during  the  confusion  attendant  on  getting  out  of 
the  service. 

Our  last  duty  in  the  line  of  service  was  performed  on 
the  28th  of  May,  when  we  turned  in  the  last  of  our  ord- 
nance, consisting  of  guns,  belts  and  bayonets,  to  the  United 
States  arsenal  located  at  this  place. 


COMPANY  B  ROSTER. 

Those  not  otherwise  mentioned  were  mustered  in  at 
Springfield,  Ills.,  and  mustered  out  at  Augusta,  Ga. 

WILLIAM  A.  HOWELL,  Captain,  Newton,  111. 
LYMAN  HARRIS,  First  Lieutenant,  Newton,  111. 
FRED  S.  BARKER,  Second  Lieutenant,  Newton,  111. 


I 


I 88  HISTORY    OF    THE 

SERGEANTS. 

Powell,  Robert  L.,  21,  Newton,  111.,  Clerk. 
Crail,  George  W.,  25,  Newton,  111.,  Pharmacist. 
Webb,  Sidney  A.,  25,  Newton,  111.,  Laborer. 
McKinnan  Wm.,  28,  Newton,  111.,  Hostler. 
Hester,  Bert,  24,  Newton,  111.,  Laborer. 
Robuck,  Hi  B.,  22,  Newton,  111.,  Tinner. 

CORPORALS. 

Brooks,  Bernie,  20,  Newton,  111.,  Laborer. 
Dowell,  Harry  C.,  19,  Willow  Hill,  111.,  Laborer. 
Hinman,  Batson,  19,  Newton,  111.,  Clerk. 
Hubbard,  Charles,  24,  Newton,  111.,  Barber. 
Parr,  Jesse  F.,  24,  Newton,  111.,   Laborer. 
Bruner,  Otto,  21,  Newton,  111.,  Farmer. 
Moshenrose,  Paul,  18,  Newton,  111.,  Farmer. 
Houchin,  Lowell,  19,  Newton,  111.,  School-teacher. 
Richardson,  Ulysses  E.,  25,  Lovington,  111.,  Farmer. 
Rentz,  Joseph,  21,  Newton,  111.,   Laborer. 
Cone,  Artemus  W. ,  25,  Lovington,  111.,  Book-keeper. 

MUSICIANS. 

Hoggard,  Harry,  18,  Lovington,  111.,  Printer. 
Arms,  David,  24,  Newton,  111.,  Farmer. 

WAGONER. 

Upton,  Albertus,  33,  Newton,  111.,  Wagon-maker. 

ARTIFICER. 

Theriac,  Raymond,  20,  Newton,  111.,  Carpenter. 

COOK. 

Huss,  Xavier,  20,  Newton,  111.,  Clerk. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  189 

PRIVATES. 

Anderson,  George  A.,  24,  Willow  Hill,  111.,  Barber. 

Albright,  Edward,  23,  Newton,  111.,  Tinner. 

Allen,  Jerry  L. ,  21,  Oblong,  111.,  Farmer. 

Adams,  David  M.,  21,  Rosedale,  111.,  Telegrapher. 

Bright,  Charles,  25,  Greenville,  111.,  Laborer. 

Badger,  OmerR.,  21,  Gila,  111.,  Farmer. 

Bowers,  Elmer,  27,  Lovington,  111.,  Farmer. 

Bever,  Guy,  21,  Newton,  111.,  Laborer. 

Boggs,  Charles,  21,  Newton,  111.,  Farmer. 

Beeman,  Everet,  27,  Hunt  City,  111.,  Carpenter. 

Beeman,  Harry,  18,  Hunc  City,  111.,  Laborer. 

Chapman,  Otis  F. ,  22,  Yale,  111.,  Farmer;  mustered  in  June 

18,  1898. 
Chittenden,  Bert,    18,   Newton,  111.,  Student;   mustered  in 

June  1 8,  1898. 

Cooper,  James,  22,  Willow  Hill,  111.,  Laborer. 
Coursey,  Thomas  M.,  29,  Willow  Hill,  111.,  Stavecutter. 
De  Frain,  Jesse  M.,  20,  Bogota,  111.',  Farmer;  mustered   in 

June  18,  1898. 
Downey,   Henson  B. ,  41,  Colfax,   111.,  Laborer;  mustered 

in  June  23,  1898. 

Downey,  Wesley  W. ,  28,  Colfax,  111.,  Brickmason. 
Ertell,  Charles  W.,  26.  Newton,  111.,  Coal  Miner. 
Earnest,  James  K.,  21,  Falmouth,   111.,  Farmer. 
Ederer,  John  P.,  23,  St.  Marie,  111.,  Laborer. 
Faller,  Benard  H.,  23,  Newton,  111.,  Clerk. 
Gleeson,  John,  21,  St.    Marie,  111.,  Farmer. 
Gibson,  Clinton,  22,  Bass,  111.,  Farmer. 
Goff,  Charles  S.,  21,  Flat  Rock,  111.,  Farmer. 
Hepner,  Alba,  24,  Pleasant  Point,  111.,  Farmer. 
Huron,  Nelson,  22,  Newton,  111.,  Farmer. 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Hickox,  Ira,  19,  Yale,    111.,  Farmer;  mustered  in  June  18, 

1898. 
Hampsten,  Albert  T.,  21,  Yale,  111.,  Farmer;  mustered  in 

June  18,  1898. 

Johnson,  Warren  B.,  32,  Bogota,  111.,  Farmer. 
Jourdan,  Elbert,  20,  Newton,  111.,  Farmer. 
Lewis,  Edward  H.,  42,  Newton,  111.,  Painter. 
Mathews,  James,  23,  Newton,  111.,  Farmer. 
McColly,  William,  21,  Quincy,  111.,  Lawyer. 
Mills,  Noah  O.,  19,  Yale,  111.,  Farmer;  mustered  in  June  18, 

1898. 

McClure,  William,  29,  Villas,   111.,  Farmer. 
Needham,   William,    18,  Yale,    III,    Laborer;   mustered  in 

June  1  8,  1898. 
Nelson,  Frank  J.,  19,  Newton,    111.,  Farmer;  mustered  in 

June  23,  1898. 

Ostendorf,  Joseph,  19,  Newton,  111.,  Engineer. 
Odell,    Benjamin  F.,  22,   Yale,    111.,  Farmer;  mustered  in 

June  18,  1898. 

Parr,  Harry,  18,  Newton,  111.,  Laborer. 
Ping,  Roy,  21,  Falmouth,  111.,  Farmer. 
Phillips,  Wendall,  20,  Newton,  111.,  Farmer. 
Parr,  Charles,  21,  Newton,  111.,  Laborer. 
Payne,  Fred,  26,  Newton,  111.,  Laborer. 
Raley,  Walter,  19,  Bradfordsville,  111.,  Farmer. 
Schneider,  Julius,  19,  St.  Marie,  111.,  Farmer. 
Storer,  Joseph  W.  ,  22,  Newton,  111.,  Clerk. 
Smith,  Walter,  23,  Oblong,  111.,  Printer;  mustered  in  June 

18,  1898. 
Sheets,    Elmer,   22,    Oblong,    111.,   Operator;  mustered    in 

June  18,  1898. 
Smith,   Otto,   21,   Oblong,   III,  Printer;  mustered  in  June 

18,  1898. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  1 91 

Selby,  Joseph  B.,  24,  Newton,  111.,  Clerk,  mustered  in  June 

23,   1898. 
Threasher,  Louis,  21,    Hunt  City,    111.,  Farmer;   mustered 

in  June  18,  1898. 

Tripp,  George  W. ,  21,  Newton,  111.,  Coal  Miner. 
Umsted,   Heber,    18,    Newton,   111.,  Plasterer;  mustered  in 

June  18,  1898. 

Vanderhoff,  John  Q.,  18,  Newton,  111.,  Farmer. 
Van  Volkenburgh,  Ruben  B.,  34,  Hamilton,  Mo.,  Printer. 
Wagy,  Charles,  25,  West  Liberty,  111.,  Miller. 
Weeks,  Cornelius,  27,  Comettsville,  Ind. ,  Baker. 
Watwood,  Charles,  31,  Lovington,  111.,  Barber. 
Yelvengton,  Calvin,  21,  Newton,  111.,  Laborer. 

RESIGNED. 

Hersh,  Elijah  W.,  32,  Newton,  111.,  Lawyer;  resignation 
accepted  March  18,  1899. 

DISCHARGED. 
SERGEANTS. 

Barker,  Fred  S.,  21,  Newton,  111.,  Clerk;  to  accept  com- 
mission in  company  March  17  1899. 

Carrick,  Thomas  W.,  30,  Newton,  111.,  Real  Estate;  dis- 
charged Aug.  24,  1898,  for  disability. 

CORPORALS. 

Johnson,  Wm.  F.,  30,  Newton  111.,  Lawyer;  discharged 
Feb.  10,  1899. 

PRIVATES. 

Hewett,  Frank,  27,  Lexington,  111.,  Plasterer;  discharged 
Sept.  12,  1898,  for  disability. 

Hampsten,  Charles,  22,  Paflmersburg,  111.,  Farmer;  dis- 
charged Oct.  17,  1898,  for  disability. 


192  HISTORY    OF    THE 

McKnight,  John,  33,  Ramsey,  111.,  Musician;  discharged 
Oct.  28,  1898,  for  disability. 

Gregory,  Lyman  S.,  39,  Lovington,  111.,  Physician;  mus- 
tered in  June  18,  1898,  discharged  Oct.  18,  1898. 

Arnold,  Eugene,  18, Newton,  111.,  Student;  discharged  Dec. 
19,  1898. 

Weeks,  Calvin  T.,  25,  Deitrich,!!!.,  Real  Estate;  mustered 
in  June  23,-  1898,  discharged  Dec.  19,  1898. 

Comstock,  Charles  M.,  20,  Yale,  111.,  Clerk;  discharged 
Dec.  7,  1898,  mustered  in  June  18,  1898. 

Epperson,  Otis  C.,  21,  Montrose,  111.,  Blacksmith;  dis- 
charged Dec.  9,  1898. 

Tiles,  Eugene  H.,  21,  Bone  Gap,  Farmer;  mustered  in 
June  18,  1898.  discharged  Dec.  18,  1898. 

Kent,  John  F.,  23,  Robinson,  111.,  Farmer;  discharged 
Dec.  19,  1898. 

Riley,  Ora  I.,  21,  Gila,  111.,  Barber;  discharged  Dec.  27, 
1898. 

Jones,  Paul,  24,  Zenith,  111.,  Teamster;  discharged  Dec. 
29,  1898. 

Hammer,  Wm.  C.,  24,  Rose  Hill,  111.,  Lawyer;  discharged 
Feb.  10,  1899. 

Massey,  Romeo,  26,  Newton,  111.,  Engineer;  discharged 
Feb.  24,  1899. 

Arnold,  Edward,  20,  Newton,  111.,  School  Teacher;  dis- 
charged March  9,  1899. 

TRANSFERRED    FROM    COMPANY    H. 

Syas,    John    F.,    21,    Paris,   111.,    Student;    transferred    to 

Hospital  Corps,  June   10,  1898. 
Burton,  Charles  O.,  24,  Falmouth,  111.,  Nurse;  transferred 

to  Hospital  Corps,  June  10,  1898. 
Little,  Charles  E.,   24,  Westborough,    111.,   Wagonmaker; 

transferred  to  Hospital  Corps,  June  10,  1898. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  193 

Bishop,  Ora  A.,  Corporal,  31,  Mattoon,  111.,  Telegrapher; 

transferred  to  Signal  Corps,  Sept.  8,   1898. 
Portlock,  Jefferson,   19,   Falmouth,  Farmer;  transferred  to 

Hospital  Corps,  Nov.  28,  1898. 

DIED. 

Stark,  Charles  V.,  21,  Newton,  111.,  Farmer;  died  at  Third 
Division  Hospital,  Jacksonville,  Fla. 


13 


MAJOR    E.    E.   ELLIOTT,    COMMANDING    3D    BATTALION. 


THIRD  BATTALION. 


LOUIS  B.  WASHBURN. 

Louis  B.  Washburn  was  born  at  Platteville,  Wiscon- 
sin, January  24,  1872.  He  secured  his  literary  education 
at  the  State  Normal  School  of  his  native  town.  He  moved 
to  Vandalia,  Illinois,  where  he  applied  himself  to  the  study 
of  law  in  the  office  of  S.  A.  Prater,  during  the  years  of 
1894  to  1898,  while  he  was  official  court  reporter  in  the 
Seventh  and  Fifth  judicial  circuits  of  Illinois.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  in  November,  1896,  which  he  makes 
his  business  in  civil  life.  On  July  26,  1890,  he  joined 
Company  I,  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guards,  as  a  private, 
and  served  in  this  capacity  and  as  a  non-commissioned 
officer  until  July  6,  1896,  when  he  was  commissioned  as 
adjutant  of  the  Second  Battalion,  with  the  rank  of  first 
lieutenant,  under  Major  McWilliams. 

On  the  election  of  E.  E.  Elliott  to  the  position  of 
major  of  the  Third  Battalion,  he  was  commissioned  adju- 
tant of  that  battalion.  He  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  volunteer  service  with  the  Fourth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  during  his  service  in  this  capacity  he  acted 
as  regimental  ordnance  officer,  and  for  a  long  period  served 
as  regimental  adjutant  and  as  regimental  commissary. 
After  the  muster  out  of  the  regiment  he  returned  to  the 
historic  city  of  his  adoption,  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
law. 


COMPANY  M. 


WILLIAM  R.   COURTNEY. 

Capt.  William  R.  Courtney,  of  Company  M,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Urbana,  Illinois,  November  7,  1861,  spent 
the  years  from  1866  to  1873  on  a  farm  in  Howard  town- 
ship, Champaign  county,  Illinois,  when  he  returned  to 
Urbana,  where  he  has  resided  since. 

He  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Eighth  Infantry,  Illinois 
National  Guard,  May  u,  1885.  On  July  15,  1886,  he  was 
appointed  corporal,  raised  to  sergeant  March  26,  1888,  and 
to  first  sergeant  July  23d  of  the  same  year,  serving  in  this 
capacity  to  March  11,  1890,  when  he  was  commissioned 
second  lieutenant,  holding  this  rank  until  March  21,  1891, 
when  he  was  duly  commissioned  as  captain  of  his  com- 
pany, which  rank  he  held  during  all  the  transfers  and 
changes  through  which  his  company  passed  until  it  became 
Company  M,  of  the  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guard. 

When  the  call  to  arms  from  the  president  brought  the 
companies  of  the  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guard  together 
at  Springfield,  he  was  the  senior  line  officer  in  the  regiment. 
He  continued  in  command  of  his  company  during  its  serv- 
ice as  United  States  volunteers,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
it  at  Augusta,  Georgia,  May  2,  1899. 


ARTHUR  W.  SMITH. 

Lieut.  Arthur  W.  Smith  was  born  in  Urbana,  the  site 
of  the  University  of  Illinois,  September  22,  1875.  He  gave 
much  of  the  time  of  his  youth  and  early  manhood  to  secur- 


CAPT.    W.    R.    COURTNEY. 


1ST    LIEUT.    A.    W.    SMITH.  2D  LIEUT.   F.    E.   THOMPSON. 


HISTORY    OF    THE 

ing  an  education,  and  in  June,  1895,  enlisted  in  the  Na- 
tional Guards  as  a  member  of  Company  M,  which  is  the 
child  of  the  twin  cities,  Champaign  and  Urbana.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1896,  he  was  made  a  corporal  of  his  company  and  in 
August  of  the  same  year  was  promoted  to  a  sergeant,  filling 
this  position  until  April,  1897,  when  another  advance 
awaited  him,  and  he  was  again  promoted,  this  time  to  the 
rank  of  second  lieutenant. 

But  the  rapid  steps  with  which  he  had  reached  this 
rank,  were  not  to  end  here,  and  accordingly  in  May  of  the 
same  year,  only  one  month  later,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  first  lieutenant,  and  with  his  company  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service,  in  which  he  bore  this  rank 
with  credit  to  date  of  mustering  out  of  the  regiment,  May 
2,  1899. 


FRED  E.   THOMPSON. 

Fred  E.  Thompson  was  born  on  the  25th  of  October, 
1875,  on  a  fruit  farm  near  Urbana,  Illinois,  and  until  his 
sixteenth  year,  lived  and  worked  upon  the  farm. 

His  father,  James  G.  Thompson,  was  a  veteran  of  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion,  having  served  three  years  in  the  Sev- 
enty-sixth Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers.  He  died  in  1892, 
after  which  Fred  and  his  mother  moved  to  Urbana,  where 
they  have  resided  ever  since. 

In  1892  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  carpenter  to  learn 
the  trade,  at  which  he  has  worked  for  several  years  during 
the  summer  months,  and  attended  the  High  School  during 
the  winter. 

In  1893  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Fourth  Illinois 
National  Guard,  which  is  now  Company  M,  Fourth  Illinois 
National  Guard,  and  has  been  in  the  company  since  that 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  199 

time.  He  saw  his  first  active  service  during  the  strikes  of 
1894,  his  company  being  sent  to  Danville,  Illinois,  where 
it  remained  fifteen  days  on  duty. 

In  1897  he  entered  the  Champaign  Business  College, 
and  on  the  26th  of  April,  1897,  or  on  the  day  his  company 
was  ordered  to  report  at  Springfield  for  duty,  he  graduated 
from  that  institution,  and  received  his  diploma. 

His  enlistment  having  expired  during  the  winter,  he 
re-enlisted  just  before  the  call  for  volunteers  came  and 
went  to  Springfield  as  a  sergeant.  On  the  4th  of  May, 
1898,  he  was  elected  second  lieutenant  of  Company  M,  and 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  as  such  on  the 
2Oth  of  May,  1898.  He  served  with  his  company  through 
the  Spanish-American  war  in  Cuba,  and  was  mustered  out 
of  the  service  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  on  the  2nd  of  May, 
1899. 


HISTORY  OF  COMPANY  M. 

One  of  the  oldest,  if  not  the  ranking  company  in  the 
organization  of  which  it  forms  a  part,  is  Company  M,  hav- 
ing been  organized  July  2,  1877,  and  attached  to  the  Ninth 
Battalion,  Illinois  National  Guards,  being  known  by  the 
name  of  Champaign  Rifle  Guards.  Soon  after  its  organiza- 
tion it  was  transferred  to  the  Eighth  regiment,  then  to  the 
Fourth  and  later  to  the  Fifth  and  finally  in  1 896  it  was  trans- 
fered  back  to  the  Fourth,  where  it  has  since  been  permitted 
peaceably  to  remain.  Prior  to  its  last  transfer  to  the  Fourth, 
it  was  known  as  Company  D,  but  wears  with  equally  as 
much  grace  the  letter  found  a  little  farther  down  the  line. 
The  first  commander  of  the  company  was  Captain  J.  W. 
Langley,  followed  in  the  order  here  given,  by  the  persons 
named:  J.  A.  Monroe,  J.  R.  Trevett,  H.  W.  Mahan,  A.  T. 


2OO  HISTORY   OF    THE 

Engle  and  W.  R.  Courtney,  who  still  holds  that  commis- 
sion. 

With  these  have  been  associated  during  these  years, 
the  following  who  held  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant:  J.  A. 
Monroe,  John  Van  Arman,  H.  W.  Mahan,  J.  W.  Haines, 
M.  E.  Chase,  C.  C.  Mittendorf,  W.  S.  Rayburn,  T.  A. 
Holt,  Ray  Brown,  W.  A.  Watson,  W.  A.  Brown,  M.  J. 
Myers,  J.  P.  Prather  and  A.  W.  Smith.  Along  with  these 
were  the  following  Second  Lieutenants:  E.  T.  Whitcomb, 
H.  W.  Mahan,  J.  A.  Miller,  J.  W.  Haines,  M.  E.  Chase, 
A.  C.  Wilcox,  C.  C.  Mittendorf,  W.  S.  Rayburn,  T.  A. 
Holt,  W.  R.  Courtney,  Ray  Brown,  A.  J.  Hampton,  W. 
A.  Brown,  M.  J.  Myers,  J.  R.  Prather,  E.  B.  Ellis  and 
F.  E.  Thompson. 

During  the  great  railroad  strikes  of  1894  this  company, 
which  was  then  Company  D,  of  the  Fifth,  spent  fifteen  days 
in  state  service  at  Danville. 

During  the  winter  of  1897,  when  the  country  was  at  a 
fever  heat  over  the  prospect  of  war  with  an  eastern  neigh- 
born,  and  the  call  for  volunteers  was  daily  expected,  the 
membership  of  this  company  increased  rapidly,  until  the 
fifty  or  thereabout  had  swelled  to  one  hundred  and  three 
brave-hearted  men,  while  many,  equally  as  loyal,  had  to  be 
turned  away. 

On  the  26th  of  April,  that  which  we  had  longed  and 
hoped  for  came  in  the  form  of  an  order  from  the  governor 
to  report  at  Springfield  for  duty  on  the  following  day.  All 
was  excitement  while  the  armory  was  being  dismantled, 
and  everything  belonging  to  the  state  as  equipment  was 
being  packed  ready  for  shipment,  to  be  turned  in  to  the 
state  authorities  at  Springfield.  Notice  was  given  for  all 
members  to  be  on  hand  early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th, 
and  they  began  gathering  the  few  articles  allowed  to  a  sol- 
dier, and  prepare  for  the  adieu  to  friends. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  2OI 

Scarce  had  the  dawn  began  to  streak  the  eastern  sky 
when  compliance  with  the  notice  was  evidenced  by  the  in- 
coming and  assembling  of  the  men  at  the  armory,  and  so 
eager  were  they  for  the  start  that  long  before  the  hour  for 
the  train's  departure  knapsacks,  rifles  and  other  accoutre- 
ments were  in  place  on  sturdy  shoulders,  ready  for  the  start. 
Meantime  relatives,  friends,  and  it  seemed  about  all  the  in- 
habitants of  the  twin  cities  had  gathered,  and  were  throng- 
ing the  streets  leading  from  the  armory  to  the  depot,  until 
they  seemed  a  seething  mass  of  human  beings,  all  desirous 
of  bidding  what  might  be  the  last  good-bye  to  some  of  Com- 
pany M. 

Headed  by  the  band  of  Uniform  Rank,  K.  of  P.,  and 
the  G.  A.  R. ,  we  marched  to  the  train  which  was  in  wait- 
ing for  us  and  which  we  soon  boarded,  conscious  that  many 
sad  hearts  realized  we  were  not  booked  for  a  holiday  out- 
ing, but  the  serious  business  of  war.  Dread  thoughts  of 
what  might  be,  involuntarily  found  a  resting  place  in  many 
minds,  for  it  could  scarcely  be  thought  that  all  would  re- 
turn to  share  in  the  glad  welcome  that  would  be  in  long 
preparation.  It  was  a  day  that  has  left  its  lasting  impress 
on  the  minds  of  the  boys  of  Company  M. 

Our  train  pulled  out  of  the  railroad  yards  amid  the 
deafening  roar  of  cannon,  shrill  whistles,  silver-chiming 
bells  and  the  shouts  and  cheers  of  the  assembled  throng, 
while  we  bid  farewell  to  home  and  friends,  for  to  us  an  in- 
definate  time;  some  forever,  , 

Reaching  Springfield  without  accident,  we  marched  to 
the  state  fair  grounds  where  we  were  allotted  one  half  of  a 
cattle  barn  for  our  camp  quarters.  And  as  the  sheds  were 
new  they  truly  made  us  an  excellent  barracks.  While  for 
a  kitchen  and  dining  hall  we  used  the  pigpens,  which  filled 
the  bill  admirably  since  they  also  were  new. 


2O2  HISTORY    OF   THE 

Thus  we  were  gently  making  the  transition  from  well 
equipped  homes  to  what  commonly  falls  to  the -soldier's  lot. 

During  the  one  month  we  spent  in  Camp  Tanner  it 
seemed  to  rain  almost  constantly,  while  the  weather  in  gen- 
eral was  of  a  cold  disagreeable  type,  which  was  another  de- 
gree in  our  initiation  into  the  realities  of  army  life.  Our 
time  in  camp,  not  only  between  showers,  was  mostly  occu- 
pied in  drilling  the  new  recruits,  and  taking  almost  daily 
an  afternoon  practice  march  of  from  five  to  ten  miles, 
which  from  the  blisters  on  our  feet  seemed  like  doing  pen- 
ance for  having  committed  the  sin  of  being  awkward, ignor- 
ant civilians.  But  what  seemed  .to  be  so  great  a  hardship  at 
first  was  doing  its  work  of  hardening,  toughening  our  brawn 
for  our  coming  duties.  Along  with  this  came  the  careful 
physical  examination  which  was  to  determine  who  were  fit 
for  enlistment  in  the  United  States  service.  Only  eight  of 
one  hundred  and  three  failed  to  meet  the  requirements, 
thus  necessitating  their  return  home,  which  was  a  sore  dis- 
appointment. While  on  the  morning  of  May  20,  about  10 
o'clock,  every  man  of  the  company  who  had  filled  the  bill 
in  the  examination,  was  formed  in  line  and  marched  over 
near  the  regimental  headquarters  where  a  platform  had 
been  erected,  before  which  we  were  halted  and  with  un- 
covered heads  and  our  strong  right  hands  lifted  toward 
heaven,  we  stood  waiting  the  moment  that  would  complete 
our  muster  in. 

Nor  was  it  a  tedious  suspense,  for  exactly  at  10:20 
Capt.  C.  S.  Roberts,  of  the  Seventeenth  United  States  In- 
fantry, took  his  place  on  the  platform  and  administered  the 
oath  that  placed  us  in  the  United  States  service  for  two 
years,  unless  sooner  discharged.  Having  at  last  attained* 
the  happy  position  of  United  States  soldiers,  the  question 
soon  arose,  when  shall  we  leave  Camp  Tanner?  But  this 
was  settled  five  days  later  on  the  morning  of  May  25,  when 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  2O3 

about  6  o'clock  orders  were   received  to   put  everything  in 
readiness  for  a  move  to  Tampa,  Florida,  by  the  next  morn- 
ing.    This  was  the  news  we  were  awaiting,  for  it  meant  we 
were  soon  to  see  Santiago,  and  the  camp  rang  with  hearty 
cheers,  followed  by  the  hustle  that  attends  the  new  soldier 
on  packing  up  for  a  move.     All   were  up   at   the  sound  of 
reveille    the   next  morning   and  ready  for  breakfast,   after 
which    our   quarters  were    thoroughly    policed   and  at   10 
o'clock  we  began  our  march  to  the  train  awaiting  us  on  the 
siding  of  the  C.  &  A. ,  near  the  fair  ground  entrance,  where 
the  tedious  wait  of  five  hours  was  endured,  when  at  3  P. 
M.  we  ate  our  first  travel  ration  and  soon  bid  farewell  to 
Camp  Tanner  and  were   off  for  the  south   land,  making  a 
brief  halt  in  the  capital  city.     At  every  station  on  our  route 
great  crowds  of  people  had  assembled  with  flowers  and  nice 
things  to  eat — the  girls  especially  were  there  looking  for  a 
button  or  something  else  as  a  souvenir  and  to  arrange  for 
correspondence  with  a  soldier.     The  boys   of  Company  M 
were  not  napping,  but  were  on  the  alert  for  souvenirs,  also, 
and  when  we  arrived  at  our  destination  there  were  enough 
hat  pins  and  ladies'  neckties  in  the   company  for  all  the 
girls  in  Florida.     Sleep   was  almost   a   stranger  to  us  the 
first  night,  although  we  had  the  best  of  Pullman  sleepers. 
At  St.  Louis  we  were  run  onto  the   Illinois    Central  tracks 
and  we  were  carried  by  that  company  until  6  P.   M.   the 
next    day,   when    at    Holly   Springs,    Mississippi,   we  were 
transferred  to  the  Kansas  City,  Memphis   &   Birmingham. 
At  8  o'clock  the  next  morning  we  arrived  at  Birmingham, 
Alabama.    Here  we  were  transferred  to  the  Central  of  Geor- 
gia and  took  our  first  ride   behind   a   wood-burning  engine. 
At  3:10  that  afternoon  we  arrived  at  the  union  depot  at  Al- 
bany, Georgia,  a  place  long  to  be  remembered  by  the  boys. 
The  citizens  of  that  town,  like   a   great  many  others,  were 
anxious  to  do  something  to  benefit   the  soldiers   and  they 


2O4  HISTORY    OF    THE 

did  it.  All  along  the  platform  were  barrels  of  lemonade, 
ladies  were  there  by  the  dozens  with  cigars,  cigarettes,  chew- 
ing gum,  tobacco  and  a  great  many  other  things.  These 
were  a  great  treat  as  we  had  not  had  a  pay  day  yet.  Com- 
pany M  was  never  known  in  a  case  of  that  kind  to  decline; 
so  they  were  well  supplied  when  they  left  Albany  at  5 
o'clock.  We  arrived  at  Columbus,  Georgia,  where  orders 
were  received  to  report  at  Jacksonville,  Florida,  instead  of 
Tampa.  This  was  not  well  received  by  the  company  for  it 
was  ominous  of  what  we  did  not  desire — continued  camp 
life. 

At  2  A.  M.  Sunday,  May  29,  we  arrived  at  our  new 
destination,  and  after  a  brief  stop  in  the  city  our  train  was 
run  out  to  what  was  called  Camp  "Cuba  Libre,"  not  im- 
properly named,  either.  After  breakfast,  that  morning  we 
left  the  train,  and  went  into  camp  among  the  tall  pines  to 
realize  a  beautiful  southern  day,  but  O!  how  very  warm 
compared  with  the  cool  breezes  of  our  north  land.  It  was 
often  said  that  the  first  day  in  Florida  was  the  hottest  we 
experienced  while  in  the  service.  But  soon  our  tents  were 
up,  and  many  of  the  boys  stretched  themselves  out  in  the 
shade  for  a  rest,  being  tired  from  the  long  ride,  while 
others  sought  a  bath  in  the  St.  Johns  river,  while  a  few 
went  to  the  city.  The  first  night  the  entire  company  was 
placed  on  guard  duty.  Everything  went  well  while  in 
camp,  there  being  very  little  sickness  in  the  company. 
June  21  we  received  two  hundred  dollars  from  Hon.  F.  B. 
Carson,  United  States  Internal  Revenue  Agent;  this  was  a 
loan  until  we  got  a  pay  day,  but  the  next  day  was  pay  day 
and  all  were  made  happy.  June  22  twenty-five  recruits 
arrived  from  home,  raising  the  company  to  one  hundred 
and  six  men;  three  were  transferred  to  the  hospital  corps 
during  the  month  of  June.  July  5  the  company  was  pres- 
ent at  the  first  review  of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  which 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


was  held  in  the  city  of  Jacksonville.  After  marching  down 
to  the  city  and  forming  for  the  review  it  began  to  rain,  and 
kept  this  up  until  the  next  day.  On  our  return  to  camp  at 
6  o'clock  supper  was  found  ready,  and  had  been  for  some 
time,  needing  only  to  be  put  on  the  tables,  where  the  rain, 
which  came  through  the  roof  of  pine  needles,  soon  satu- 
rated everything,  cooling  the  coffee  and  giving  to  the  food 
a  taste  of  pine  tar.  Our  clothing  was  soaked,  and  but  few 
of  the  boys  had  a  change  at  that  time,  compelling  them  to 
sleep  in  what  they  had  on,  while  the  tents,  being  old,  leaked 
badly,  making  the  night  as  uncomfortable  as  could  be.  At 
the  lower  end  of  the  company  street,  where  the  ground  was 
quite  low,  the  water  began  to  back  up  into  the  tents  during 
the  night  and  the  boys  had  to  move  out.  The  next  morn- 
ing water  was  from  eighteen  to  twenty-eight  inches  deep 
in  the  three  last  tents,  while  in  a  small  ravine  between  the 
company  street  and  the  mess  hall  water  was  waist  deep. 
During  the  day  the  boys  of  Companies  M  and  H,  being 
close  neighbors,  built  a  corduroy  bridge  over  two  hundred 
feet  long  across  this  ravine,  working  in  water  waist  deep. 
In  three  days  this  water  had  all  disappeared  in  the  sand, 
and  everything  went  on  as  before. 

It  fell  to  Company  M  to  bear  the  honor  of  being  the 
first  company  in  the  regiment  to  be  chosen  as  provost 
guards,  and  on  July  18  they  were  ordered  to  move  to  the 
city  the  following  day.  This  news  was  received  with  cheers, 
as  it  would  be  a  change  of  life.  Early  the  next  morning 
everything  was  packed  that  we  would  need  while  gone,  and 
other  articles  were  stored  in  one  tent  and  a  guard  left 
over  them.  At  8  o'clock  we  marched  from  camp  at  a  port 
arms  amid  the  deafening  cheers  of  hundreds.  We  went 
into  camp  just  opposite  Seventh  Army  Corps  headquarters, 
where  we  remained  ten  days,  July  21  being  our  first  day 


2O6  HISTORY   OF    THE 

as  provost  guards, — and  it  was  one  of  the  days  long  to  be 
remembered  by  the  boys  of  Company  M. 

During  our  short  stay  we  won  the  hearts  of  the  citizens 
of  Jax,  and  especially  of  the  young  ladies.  But  we  were  per- 
mitted to  remain  on  provost  duty  only  tendays.asit  seemed 
they  wished  to  divide  this  only  good  thing  they  had,  around, 
giving  all  a  small  slice,  and  accordingly  we  were  marched 
back  to  camp  Cuba  Libre,  and  entered  again  into  the  old 
camp  life,  daily  drill,  dress  parade  and  fatigue  duties  too 
numerous  to  mention.  August  10,  we  moved  to  what  after- 
ward proved  to  be  the  fever  stricken  Panama  Park,  for  im- 
mediately upon  our  arrival  there  the  boys  began  to  get  sick 
and  were  sent  to  the  hospital  until  there  were  only  a  few 
men  able  for  duty, — even  the  officers  were  all  sick  and  it 
looked  as  though  Company  M  had  seen  better  days  else- 
where. At  8:50  on  the  evening  of  September  22, occurred  the 
death  of  Private  Percy  N.  Tittle.  Although  it  was  known 
early  in  the  evening  that  he  could  not  live,  yet  the  news  of 
his  death  came  as  a  shock  to  the  company,  for  he  was  a 
good  soldier  and  loved  by  all  the  members  of  the  company. 

At  8  A.  M.  next  morning,  September  23,  while  arrange- 
ments were  being  made  for  the  funeral  of  Comrade  Tittle, 
the  company  was  again  shocked  by  the  news  of  the  death 
of  Private  Herman  E.  McFarland. 

Hence  arrangements  were  made  for  a  double  funeral, 
which  was  held  on  the  following  day,  and  the  remains  of 
Comrade  Tittle  were  shipped  to  his  home  at  Arcanum, 
Ohio,  and  those  of  Comrade  McFarland  to  Mendon,  Illi- 
nois. Soon  after  this,  on  October  4,  occurred  the  death  of 
Private  George  Turner,  which  was  the  third  and  last  death 
in  this  company.  His  remains  were  sent  north  and  buried 
at  Mahomet,  Illinois. 

Shortly  after  these  sad  occurrences,  Company  M  was 
moved  to  the  city  of  Jacksonville  to  again  enter  upon 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  2O/ 

provost  guard  duty,  and  were  camped  at  Provost  Station 
No.  4,  where  it  remained  a  little  pore  than  a  week,  when 
it  was  moved  to  Station  No.  5,  in  the  central  part  of  the 
city,  where  very  good  quarters  were  furnished  in  a  building. 

On  October  16,  1898,  Captain  Courtney  and  Lieuten- 
ant Thompson,  who  had  been  sick,  were  granted  leave  of 
absence  to  return  home  and  recuperate,  while  on  the  24th 
of  the  same  month  Company  M  bid  farewell  to  their  friends 
and  the  city  of  Jacksonville,  Florida,  and  moved  to  Sa- 
vannah, Georgia,  and  went  into  camp  at  Provost  Station 
No.  5,  at  Collinsville,  a  suburb  of  that  city.  It  was  there 
that  the  boys  enjoyed  the  best  time  while  in  the  service, 
for  they  soon  became  acquainted  with  both  young  and  old 
of  the  vicinity  and  were  invited  out  to  suppers  and  enter- 
tainments nearly  every  evening.  While  here  a  cake  walk 
was  given  by  the  members  of  the  company  one  evening, 
under  the  electric  light  in  a  corner  of  the  camp,  and  fully 
one  hundred  men,  women  and  children  were  present,  and  all 
had  a  good  time.  Thanksgiving,  1898,  was  a  day  that  will 
never  be  forgotten  by  the  boys  of  Company  M.  It  would 
take  entirely  too  much  space  to  begin  to  describe  the  din- 
ner we  sat  down  to  that  day.  After  dinner  army  wagons 
were  brought  into  use  and  the  young  ladies  who  had  been 
so  kind  to  us  were  given  a  ride.  December  6th  the  com- 
pany moved  into  camp  at  Camp  Onward,  and  again  began 
drill  and  dress  parade,  which  lasted  until  January  3,  1899, 
when  Company  M,  with  the  rest  of  the  regiment,  embarked 
on  the  United  States  transport  Mobile  for  the  long  desired 
island  of  Cuba. 

Early  on  that  morning  the  city  friends  of  Company  M 
were  assembled  at  the  river  docks,  awaiting  our  arrival, 
which  was  not  until  about  9:00  A.  M.,  to  bid  us  farewell, 
for  at  least  a  short  time.  About  1 1  :oo  o'clock  the  trans- 
port, with  the  aid  of  a  tug,  began  to  move  toward  the 


208 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


great  Atlantic,  while  whistles  blew,  bells  rang  and  as  long 
as  we  were  in  sight,  the  people  with  tears  in  almost  every 
eye  waved  a  farwell.  Just  fifty-one  hours  later,  with  two 
bands  playing  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner"  and  two  thou- 
sand five  hundred  soldiers  standing  on  deck  with  uncovered 
heads,  the  Mobile  entered  Havana  harbor,  passing  Morro 
Castle,  the  armored  cruiser  Brooklyn,  the  battleship  Texas 


MOBILE    ENTERING    HAVANA    HARBOR. 

and  the  wreck  of  the  Maine,  having  made  a  distance  of 
eight  hundred  and  fifty-five  miles  without  having  passed 
through  a  station  or  stopped  for  water,  finishing  a  trip  that 
we  will  not  soon  forget. 

Our  stay  in  Cuba  was  well  spent  and  enjoyed  by  all, 
there  being  but  little  sickness  or  anything  else  to  mar  our 
comfort.  The  company  made  two  practice  marches  to 


FOURTH   ILLINOIS.  2O9 

Guines  while  in  the  island,  the  first  with  the  Third  Bat- 
talion, under  command  of  Major  Elliott,  and  the  second 
with  the  First  Brigade,  under  Brigadier-General  Douglas, 
the  distance  being  about  thirty-five  miles  from  Havana. 
We  camped  near  Havana  harbor  a  day  on  the  return. 
From  the  first  march  the  boys  of  this  company  had  the 
name  of  being  explorers,  and  nothing  ever  went  by  with  a 
mystery  that  they  did  not  solve.  This  time  they  went 
down  under  the  fifteen  feet  of  water  in  Havana  harbor, 
where  the  Spanish  had  thrown  car-loads  of  ammunition  rath- 
er than  have  it  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  Here 
the  boys  secured  all  the  relics  they  desired,  in  the  line  of 
Spanish  ammunition,  in  the  shape  of  large  shells  and  other 
munitions  of  war,  which  proved  to  be  quite  valuable  on  our 
return  to  the  United  States.  On  the  second  march  we 
were  camped  two  days  at  the  foot  of  a  mountain,  where 
Company  M  -boys  were  the  first  ones  in  the  regiment  to 
discover  swarms  of  bees  and  secure  their  honey,  which  was 
a  great  treat  to  us  at  that  time.  They  also  were  the  first 
to  discover  a  large  cave  near  the  top  of  the  mountain,  and 
after  discovering  it  they  must  explore  it.  It  proved  to  be 
about  eight  feet  in  diameter,  extending  some  forty  feet 
perpendicularly  in  the  mountain,  and  increasing  in  its  di- 
mensions so  far  as  it  could  be  explored.  They  secured  a 
large  rope  and  tied  one  end  around  one  of  their  venture- 
some companions,  and  lowered  him  into  this  grewsome 
pit.  Having  descended  some  twenty  feet,  his  eye  caught 
sight  of  a  huge  snake  in  a  crevice  of  the  wall,  and  it  took 
but  a  moment  to  decide  what  to  do.  Lowering  another 
rope  with  a  noose  in  one  end,  which  was  fixed  so  the  snake 
would  have  to  crawl  into  it  in  coming  from  the  wall,  with 
some  dry  grass  and  a  match,  a  smoke  was  started,  which 
soon  proved  too  much  for  his  snakeship,  and  he  readily  be- 
came a  captive  to  Yankee  ingenuity  and  push.  It  proved 

14 


2IO  HISTORY    OF    THE 

to  be  a  species  of  the  boa  constrictor,  measuring  eleven 
feet  and  seven  inches  in  length.  Several  others  of  the 
same  kind,  though  not  so  large,  were  captured  and  brought 
back  with  the  regiment. 

On  April  n,  thirty-two  members  of  the  company 
made  application  through  proper  military  channels  for  a 
discharge  from  the  service,  and  three  hours  afterward  an 
order  was  received  discharging  them.  At  11:30  o'clock 
that  night,  orders  were  received  to  return  the  company  to 
the  United  States  for  muster  out.  This  was  the  news  the 
boys  had  been  waiting  for  and  it  was  well  received,  and  no 
more  slumber  was  indulged  in  that  night  by  members  of 
this  company,  and  by  6  A.  M.,  of  the  I2th,  everything  was 
packed,  tents  down  and  all  ready  for  the  wagon  train,  which 
arrived  a  few  minutes  later.  Very  soon  all  of  our  belong- 
ings were  aboard,  and  Company  M  was  again  ready  to  bid 
adieu  to  another  camp  and  its  surroundings,  and  truly  the 
most  beautiful  of  all  our  camps  was  this  ' '  Camp  Columbia. " 

A  march  of  about  one-quarter  of  a  mile  brought  us  to 
Buena  Vista,  where  we  boarded  a  special  train  for  Havana, 
where  on  leaving  the  train  we  started  on  our  last  march  in 
Cuba,  viz. :  From  the  depot  to  the  wharf  of  Havana  har- 
bor, on  arriving  at  which  a  rest  of  an  hour  was  taken,  after 
which  we  were  taken  by  a  small  United  States  quarter- 
master's boat  out  near  the  wreck  of  the  Maine,  where  we 
boarded  the  United  States  Mail  Steamship  Whitney  about 
noon.  All  afternoon  we  lay  in  the  harbor  waiting  for  the 
baggage,  etc. ,  to  be  loaded  and  a  few  minutes  before  the 
sun  went  down  the  Whitney  began  to  move  in  the  direction 
of  the  sea,  while  all  were  on  deck  to  witness,  for  us,  the 
last  sunset  and  other  scenes  about  this  historic  city  and 
harbor.  We  encountered  a  rough  sea,  and  sea  sickness 
was  the  common  thing  on  board  our  ship. 

As  morning  dawned  we  were  in  sight  of  Key  West,  but 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  211 

throughout  the  remainder  of  the  day  no  land  was  visible. 
About  ii  P,  M.  the  boat  began  going  around  in  a  circle, 
which  movement  she  kept  up  until  morning,  when  we 
found  ourselves  near  a  small  island,  and  in  a  short  space  of 
time  were  treading  its  sandy  surface,  and  learned  we  were 
on  Egmont  Key,  United  States  detention  camp,  where  we 
remained  three  days.  No  sickness  developing  we  were  allowed 
to  go  on  our  way,  and  boarding  the  Plant  steamer  Margaret 
at  9  A.  M.,  we  arrived  at  Port  Tampa  at  noon,  and  all  were 
glad  to  once  more  plant  their  feet  on  United  States  soil,  where 
everything  seemed  so  different;  rations  tasted  better  and 
everything  was  better  in  general,  and  all  were  well  pleased. 
We  remained  here  until  3:30  P.  M.,  when  we  went  on 
board  a  special  train  over  the  Plant  System  railroad,  and 
journeyed  over  a  country  we  had  never  seen,  and  after  a 
good  night's  rest  we  awoke  next  morning  to  find  ourselves 
still  in  Florida,  but  soon  to  pass  over  the  line  into  Georgia, 
and  a  little  later  to  find  ourselves  near  the  city  limits  of 
Savannah.  Here  the  company  met  with  one  of  its  great- 
est disappointments,  when  the  word  went  from  ear  to  ear 
that  we  would  not  get  to  stop  in  that  city,  but  must  enter 
camp  at  Augusta,  farther  up  the  river. 

Soon  the  officers  were  taken  down  to  the  city  in  a 
special  car  that  they  might  get  something  to  satisfy  their 
hunger.  But  there  were  hungry  boys,  also,  and  a  great 
manv  of  them  started  through  the  drizzling  rain  in  the 
direction  of  the  city  in  quest  of  something  their  appetites 
craved,  and  the  consequence  was  that  five  of  them  were 
left  in  Savannah,  but  reached  the  company  during  the 
night  while  on  the  siding  near  Augusta,  Georgia,  where  we 
had  arrived  at  6  P.  M.,  April  18.  As  it  was  quite  late,  we 
remained  on  the  train  until  the  next  morning,  when  we 
went  into  camp  once  more  in  the  United  States.  The 
boys  were  made  happy  at  noon  by  a  message  stating  that 


212  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  Hon.  T.  B.  Carson,  United  States  internal  revenue 
agent  of  New  York,  would  arrive  during  the  day,  and,  as  he 
had  been  like  a  father  to  the  company  during  their  former 
stay  in  the  United  States  camps,  and  had  always  seen  that 
they  did  not  want  for  anything  he  could  furnish.  When 
he  drove  into  camp  that  afternoon,  all  the  boys  were  eager 
to  get  to  shake  hands  with  him  first.  But  another  happy 
surprise  awaited  us  the  day  following,  in  the  announcement 
that  our  battalion,  the  Third,  would  be  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment  on  the  2d  of  May,  an  event  we  could  scarcely 
hope  for,  since  the  First  and  Second  Battalions  had  been 
at  work  on  their  books  preparing  for  this  event  for  near 
two  weeks  prior  to  our  arrival.  These  days  soon  sped  by, 
not  being  burdened  much  with  guard  and  other  camp  duties, 
and  we  enjoyed  ourselves  by  seeing  the  officers  and  clerks 
sweltering  over  their  final  reports  and  muster-out  rolls  and 
in  our  trips  to  the  city. 

May  2d  at  last  arrived  and  the  muster  out  was  done  in 
a  few  minutes,  every  man  receiving  an  honorable  discharge. 
The  baggage  had  been  checked  early  in  the  morning  and 
the  company  was  mustered  out  at  10:30  A.  M.,  being  in  the 
service  just  one  year  and  one  week  to  the  hour  and  minute. 
After  the  muster  out  all  left  camp  as  citizens  once  more. 
The  company  left  Augusta  on  a  special  train  at  4:20  P.  M. 
and  arrived  at  Atlanta  next  morning,  where  we  took  break- 
fast, reaching  Chattanooga  for  dinner  and  Nashville  for 
supper.  This  was  the  last  opportunity  we  had  of  taking 
a  meal  until  we  arrived  at  home  on  the  5th,  at  2:20  P.  M. 
At  Mattoon  we  were  met  by  a  committee  representing  the 
citizens  of  Champaign  and  Urbana,  who  explained  clearly 
the  fact  that  a  good  dinner  awaited  us  and  that  the  people 
expected  a  parade.  It  did't  take  a  lot  of  hungry  soldiers 
long  to  decide  the  proper  order  of  things  would  be  dinner 
first  and  parade  afterward.  While  time  was  beginning  to 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  213 

lag  at  this  switch  end  of  the  trip,  yet  it  was  not  long  after 
the  plans  were  agreed  upon  until  the  shrill  notes  of  the 
whistle  notified  us  that  the  home  station  was  at  hand. 

As  we  passed  through  the  Illinois  Central  yards  all  the 
whistles  in  the  city  began  to  blow  and  all  the  bells  began 
to  ring  a  welcome  home  coming.  The  boys  had  gotten 
their  hand  baggage  ready,  and  as  many  as  the  small  space 
would  admit  of,  had  taken  their  places  on  the  steps,  mak- 
ing all  the  haste  possible  to  again  stand  on  home  territory. 
When  the  train  came  to  a  halt,  it  was  apparent  that  one 
thousand  two  hundred  people  had  gathered  to  join  in  one 
glad  welcome,  while  two  bands  were  discoursing  music, 
and  the  Sons  of  Veterans  fired  a  salute  with  shotguns. 
Along  with  all  this  the  secret  orders  and  the  Champaign 
Fire  Department  were  there  in  full  uniform,  expressive  of 
gratitude  at  the  safe  return  of  those  who  had  gone  forth  to 
lay  their  lives  on  the  altar  of  their  country. 

Through  the  surging  crowd  could  be  seen  fathers, 
mothers,  brothers  and  sisters  crowding  their  way  to  press  a 
kiss  on  one  whose  absence  for  a  year  had  strengthened  the 
tie  of  kindred  love.  Sweethearts  and  friends  were  there 
also,  and  such  a  glorious  welcome  will  hardly  be  given  Ad- 
miral Dewey  on  his  return  from  glorious  victories  in  a 
distant  land. 

After  doing  soldierly  justice  to  a  good  dinner,  a  line  of 
parade  was  formed  on  Main  street,  and  a  line  of  march 
was  taken  up  including  the  principal  streets  of  the  city, 
preceded  by  the  Champaign  Fire  Department,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  Sons  of  Veterans  and  all  the  secret 
societies  of  the  twin  cities.  After  marching  through  the 
principal  streets  in  Champaign,  the  march  was  started  to 
Urbana.  Arriving  there  in  front  of  the  court  house,  two 
short  addresses  of  welcome  were  made  by  Col.  J.  S.  Wolfe, 
of  Champaign,  and  Judge  F.  M.  Wright,  of  Urbana.  After 


214  HISTORY    OF    THE 

this  the  company  was  allowed  to  go  home  or  wherever 
they  wished.  Receptions,  balls  and  entertainments  were 
given  in  honor  of  Company  M  every  evening  for  over  a  week 
afterward.  The  citizens  of  the  twin  cities  and  the  mem- 
bers of  Company  M  will  long  remember  April  27,  1898, 
and  May  5,  1899. 

COMPANY   M  ROSTER. 

Where  not  otherwise  designated,  the  members  of  this 
company  were  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on 
the  2Oth  day  of  May,  1898,  at  Springfield,  111.,  and  mus- 
tered out  at  Augusta,  Ga. ,  May  2,  1899. 

WILLIAM  R.  COURTNEY,  Captain,  Urbana,  111. 
ARTHUR  W.  SMITH,  First  Lieutenant,  Urbana,  111. 
FRED  E.  THOMPSON,  Second  Lieutenant,  Urbana,  111. 

SERGEANTS. 

Doty,  George  E. ,  First  Sergeant,  Champaign,  111. 

Ellis,  Edwin  B.,  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  Champaign,  111. ; 
mustered  in  June  20,  1898;  made  Corporal  July  4, 
1898;  made  Quartermaster  Sergeant  Sept.  i,  1898. 

Teeple,  Wallace  D.,  Maringo,  111. 

Frazee,  John  W. ,  Champaign,  111. 

Neville,  Charles  W.,  Urbana,  111. 

CORPORALS. 

Driskille,  Frank  K.,  Champaign,  111. ;  reduced  to  ranks  June 
21,  1898;  appointed  Corporal  July  4,  1898. 

Hendricks,  AndrewJ.,  Urbana,  111. 

Willskey,  Lewis  C.,  Champaign,  111. 

Edwards,  Henry  R.,  Urbana,  111.;  made  Corporal  July  4, 
1898. 


2l6  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Patten,  William  G.,  Urbana,  111.;  appointed  Quartermas- 
ter Sergeant  June  i,  1898;  reduced  to  Corporal 
Sept.  i,  1898. 

Golden,  Cecil  L. ,  Urbana,  111.;  made  Corporal  Dec.  i, 
1898. 

ARTIFICER. 

Railsback,  Bert;  made  Artificer,  Dec.    i,  1898. 

MUSICIANS. 

Edwards,  Ellwood,  Urbana,  111. 
Fletcher,  Clarence  A.,  Pesotum,  111. 

PRIVATES. 

Anderson,  Oliver  E.,    Homer,    111.;  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 

Buchanan,  Samuel  A.,  Urbana,  111. 
Bundy,  Herman  W.,    Tolono,    111.;   mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 

Crabtree,  Arthur  O.,  Urbana,  111. 
Creech,  William  J.,  Urbana,  111. 
Cusick,  Thomas   O.,    Homer,    111.;   mustered    in  June  20, 

1898. 

Duncan,  Ora  M.,  Urbana,  111. 
Ensley,  Sheldon  D.,  Champaign,  111. 
Eldridge,  Jerry  N.,  Champaign,  111. 
Everman,  James  A.,  Urbana,  111. 
Flatt,  Ira  J.  W. ,   Champaign,   111.;    mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 
Gates,    Frank   E..    Seymour,    111.;    mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 

Gilkey,  Edward  C.,  Portland,  Me. 

Gray,  Leone  S.,  Homer,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 
Holden,  Alexander  E.,  Hope,   Ind. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  2  I/ 

Harris,  Roy,  Danville,  111. 

Jewell,  Frank,  Tuscola,  111. 

Jewell,  Fred  N.,  Tuscola,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20,    1898. 

Jamison,  Ira  T. ,  Homer,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 

Kirby,  Francis  M.,  Urbana,  111. 

Lacy,  Hubert  V. ,  Homer,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 

McCloud,  Fred.,  Cook,  Urbana,  111. 

McQuay,    Fred,    Champaign,    111. ;   mustered   in  June  20, 

1898. 

Moon,  Orris  E.,  Champaign,   111. 
Moore,    Charles  L.,    Tolono,    111.;  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 

Mitchell,   Joseph  H.,  Urbana,  111. 
Morrow,  Clarence  G.,  Urbana,  111. 
Norton,  Joseph  G.,  Champaign,  111. 
Oneil,  Barney,  Champaign,  111. 
Park,  Andrew  H.,  South  Chicago,  111. 
Priley,  Fred,  Urbana,  111. 

Sands,  Richard  E.,  Tolono,  111. ;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 
Schilling,  Walter  H.,  Urbana,  111. 
Stockwill,  John  W.,  Urbana,  111. 
Stockwill,  Nathaniel  P.,  Urbana,  111. 
Voight,  Harry  M.,  Champaign,  111.;  mustered  in   June  20, 

1898. 
Zanos,  Edward,  Urbana,  111. 

DISCHARGED. 

Hawker,  Frank  A.,  Linden,  Ind.,  First  Sergeant;  appointed 
Corporal  July  4,  1898;  appointed  Sergeant  Dec.  i, 
1898;  appointed  First  Sergeant  Dec.  i,  1898;  dis- 
charged April  10,  1899. 

Courtney,  Albert  M.,  Urbana,  111.,  Sergt. ;  discharged  Nov. 
3,  1898. 


2l8  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Hays,    Fred   H.,  Urbana,    111.,  Corporal;  discharged   April 

10,  1899. 
Ekbom,    Albert   R.,  Champaign,  111.,  Corporal;  discharged 

Feb.  9,  1899. 
Fox,  Charles  S. ,    Saybrook,    111.,  made   Corporal  July  4, 

1898;  discharged  April  4,  1899. 
Russell,  Edward  T.,  Champaign,  111.,  made   Corporal  July 

4,  1898;  discharged  April  10,  1899. 
Stockwill,    Willie  V.,   Urbana,    111.,    appointed   Corporal 

July  4,  1898;  discharged  Dec.  24,  1898,  on  account 

of  physicial  disability. 
Baker,  Loein  C.,    Champaign,  111.,  made  Corporal  March 

21,  1899;  discharged  April  10,  1899. 
Mason,  Charles  E.,  Urbana,  111.,  Artificer; discharged  Oct. 

18,    1898. 
Brownfield,  McClelland,  Salem,  111.,  Wagoner;  discharged 

March  30,  1899. 
Amerhein,  Charles  B.,  Rantool,  111.;  discharged   April  ro, 

1899. 
Blanchard,  Arthur  S.,    Urbana,    111.;  discharged   Sept.    5, 

1898,  for  disability. 
Cady,   Frederick  R.,   Urbana,    111.;    discharged    April   10, 

1899. 
Campbell,    Matthew,    Urbana,    111. ;    discharged  April   10, 

1899. 
Corbin,   William  A.,    Owensburg,    Ind. ;   discharged  Sept. 

25,    1898,  on  disability. 

Carson,  Lewis  P.,  Rantool,  111.;  discharged  April  10,  1899. 
Choat,   Sidney   G.,    Monmouth,    111.;  discharged  April    4, 

1899. 
Dahlenburg,   William,   Urbana,    111.;  discharged  April   10, 

1899. 
Davis,    Harry    J.,    Champaign,    111.;    discharged  Jan.    14, 

1899. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  219 

Dorr,  Thomas  C.,  Urbana,  111.;  discharged  April  10,  1899. 
Durand,    Holland   D.,  Chicago,    111.;   discharged  April   10, 

1899. 
Dollinger,  Hubert  H.,  Champaign,  111.;  mustered  in   June 

20,  1898,  discharged  April  10,  1899. 
Eldridge,  Calmer,  Champaign,  111.,  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898;  discharged  April  10,  1899. 
Fisher,  Charles  P.,  Charleston,   111.;  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898,  discharged  April  10,  1899. 
Gordon,  Charles  C.,  Mayview,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898;  discharged  April  10,  1899. 
Havens,  Charles  H.,  Champaign,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898;  discharged  April  10,    1899. 
Hodge,  Edward  F.,  Urbana,  111. ;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898; 

discharged  April  10,  1899. 
Johnson,  Elmer  H.,  Urbana,  111. ;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898; 

discharged  March  7,  1899. 

Lake,  Edward  H.,  Bondville,  111.;  discharged  April  10,  1899. 
McAuley,  Joseph  H.,  Champaign,  111.;  discharged  April  10, 

1899. 

Maguire,  Morley,  Hamilton,  Mo.;  discharged  April  10,  1899. 
Moore,  Walter  A.,   Champaign,  111.;  discharged  April   10, 

1899. 
Moore,  Clarence  A.,  Champaign,  111.;  discharged  April  10, 

1899. 
Moore,  Thomas  W. ,    Roanoke,  Va. ;   discharged   April   4, 

1899. 
Myers,   Willis  I.,    Champaign,    111.;   discharged   April   10, 

1899. 
Powell,  Harry  A.,    Champaign,    111.;  discharged  Aug.    29, 

1898,  on  disability. 
Pattengale,  John  T. ,  Champaign,  111. ;  discharged  April  10, 

1899. 


22O  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Snyder,  William  O. ,  Urbana,  111. ;  mustered  in  June  20,  1 898 ; 

discharged  April  10,  1889. 
Small,  William  S.,  Farmland,    Ind. ;  discharged  April  10, 

1898. 
Satterwhite,  William  P.,  Urbana,  111.;  discharged  Sept.  5, 

1898,  on  disability. 
Stonebruner,   Clarence  M. ,   Champaign,   111.;  mustered  in 

June  20,  1898;  discharged  Nov.   20,    1898,  on  disa- 
bility. 
Stevens,  John  J.,  Urbana,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898; 

discharged  April  10,  1899. 
Robins,  Earle  E. ,  Champaign,  111.;  discharged  March  29, 

1899. 

Wilson,  Ira  L. ,  Lebanon,  Ind. 

Wollam,  Ira,  Owensburg,  Ind.;  discharged  April  10,    1899. 
Yount,  John   H.,  May  view,  111.;  discharged  September   5, 

1898,  on  disability. 

TRANSFERS. 

McCoole,  Claud  S.,  Cleutons  Heights,   Kan.;  transfered  to 

Hospital  Corps  June  10,   1898. 
Perry  Geo.  G.,  Urbana,  111.;  transfered  to  Hospital  Corps 

June  10,  1898. 
Musgrave,  Andrew,  transfered  to  Hospital  Corps  June  20, 

1898. 
Oglesby,  James  V. ;  transfered  to  Hospital  Corps  July  24, 

1898. 
Twitchell,    John,    Virdea,    111. ;  transfered    to    Regimental 

Band  December  24,  1898. 

DEATHS    BY    DISEASE. 

Tittle,  Percy  H.,  Arcanum,  Ohio;  died  at  Third  Division 
Hospital,  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  September  22,  1898, 
of  typhoid  fever. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  221 

McFarland,  Herman  E.,  Mendon,  111.;  died  at  Camp  Cuba 

Libre,  Jacksonville,   Fla. ,   September  23,    1898,  of 

typhoid  fever. 
Turner,    George   E.,    Ogden,    111.;   died  at  Third  Division 

Hospital,    Jacksonville,    Fla.,   October  4,    1898,   of 

typhoid  fever. 


COMPANY  H. 


WILLIAM  N.   PIPER. 

William  N.  Piper  was  born  in  Edgar  county,  Septem- 
ber 21,  1871,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to  Paris,  in  1873. 
Here  he  attended  the  schools  of  the  city,  during  his  earlier 
years,  after  which  he  served  an  apprinticeship  as  a  har- 
ness-maker, and  later  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  A. 
A.  Piper  &  Sons,  dealers  in  harness  and  saddlery. 

In  1893,  he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Illinois  National 
Guards  and  in  May,  1894,  was  appointed  a  corporal. 
Elected  second  lieutenant  June  20,  1898,  and  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  Volunteer  service  May  20,  1898, 
and  on  November  5,  1898,  was  commissioned  first  lieu- 
tenant of  his  company,  in  which  rank  he  continued  until 
mustered  out  May  2,  1899.  During  his  relation  to  the 
Illinois  National  Guards  he  was  with  his  company  in  Chi- 
cago at  the  time  of  the  great  strikes. 


HISTORY  OF  COMPANY  H. 

Company  H,  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guard,  was  or- 
ganized at  Paris,  Illinois,  in  the  year  1881.  Its  first  of- 
ficers were  Captain  Vance,  First  Lieut.  Douglass  Mann 
and  Second  Lieut.  William  Macbeth.  The  organization 
was  Company  C,  of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  and  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Fourth  in  18 — .  The  company  has  been 
commanded  in  succession  by  Captains  Vance,  Jaquath, 


CAPT.     W.     H.     SLANKER. 


224  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Macbeth,  Crowell,  Lang,  Davis  and  Slanker.  'Captain 
Blanker  was  in  command  of  the  company  at  the  time  it 
answered  the  call  to  arms,  April  26,  1898.  He  was  sec- 
onded by  First  Lieut.  William  Barr  and  Second  Lieut. 
William  N.  Piper. 

During  the  strike  at  East  St.  Louis  stockyards  in  1886, 
Company  H  accompanied  the  Eighth  Regiment  and  served 
fourteen  days.  The  next  call  came  July  9,  1894,  when 
their  services  were  once  more  asked  for  in  the  interest  of 
the  state.  Here  they  served  eleven  days  at  Camp  Hop- 
kins. 

In  October,  1892,  and  September,  1893,  the  Company 
spent  several  days  at  the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago.  The 
next  pleasure  trip  was  to  Charleston,  Illinois,  to  attend  the 
laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  State  School.  On 
July  22,  1897,  the  company  left  the  state  camp,  Camp 
Lincoln,  and  attended  the  unveiling  of  the  Logan  monu- 
ment in  Chicago,  returning  July  24. 

The  order  directing  Captain  Slanker  to  report  at 
Springfield,  Illinois,  for  duty,  was  received  at  2:30  A.  M. , 
April  26,  1898.  Immediately  the  city  was  awakened,  and 
the  news  spread  like  fire.  As  soon  as  possible  those  mem- 
bers who  did  not  live  in  Paris  were  notified  of  the  presence 
of  the  order  to  report  at  once.  At  daybreak  the  boys  be- 
gan to  arrive,  and  by  noon  almost  the  entire  company,  as 
well  as  a  large  number  of  recruits,  were  gathered  at  the 
armory.  In  the  afternoon  the  Company  fell  in  and 
marched  to  the  southwest  steps  of  the  court  house  and 
listened  to  an  address  by  Rev.  Bell,  of  Paris,  and  were  pre- 
sented with  two  flags,  one  the  Stars  and  Stripes  by  the  the 
G.  A.  R.,  and  the  other  a  Cuban  flag  by  the  Baptist  Young 
People's  Union,  of  Paris.  Afterward  all  returned  to  a  hall 
on  the  west  side  of  the  square,  and  partook  of  a  supper 
prepared  by  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society  and  Relief  Corps. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  22$ 

At  8:30  P.  M.  the  company  leftover  the  Big  Four  for 
Springfield,  where  they  arrived  at  2:30  A.  M.  (Apr.  27), 
just  twenty  four  hours  from  the  time  of  receiving  the  order. 
They  immediately  marched  to  Camp  Tanner  and  reported 
for  duty.  Although  they  were  the  second  company  to 
arrive  in  camp  they  were  the  first  to  report,  for  the  other 
company  did  not  report  till  the  next  day. 

Company  H,  with  Company  E,  was  quarted  in  Barn 
H  of  the  cattle  section,  where  they  remained  until  they 
left  for  Jacksonville. 

At  the  time  Company  H  received  the  order  it  consisted 
of  three  commissioned  officers  and  eighty-four  enlisted  men. 
While  waiting  for  a  train  more  men  were  enrolled,  increas- 
ing the  number  to  one  hundred  and  seventeen  enlisted  men. 
When  they  were  examined  for  the  volunteer  service  it  was 
reduced  to  seventy-eight  men  and  the  shortage  was  made 
up  by  the  transfer  of  the  following  men  : 

PRIVATES. 

John  F.  Fowler,  Company  A. 
Carl  Heap,  Company  L. 
Thomas  Puyear,  Company  L. 
Isaac  Montgomery,  Company  L. 
James  M.  Clark,  Company  E. 
Stephen  A.  Shyrer,   Company  E. 

This  raising  the  number  to  the  maximin  of  eighty-four 
enlisted  men  and  three  officers. 

During  the  stay  in  Camp  Tanner  many  of  the  friends 
and  relatives  of  the  company  visited  them,  and  always  came 
with  well  filled  baskets. 

Company  H  was  mustered  into  the  volunteer  service 
May  20,  1898,  by  Captain  Baker,  U.  S.  A.  They  left 
with  the  regiment  May  26,  bound  for  Tampa,  Florida,  but 

15 


226  HISTORY    OF    THE 

some  place  in  Georgia  an  order  was  received  directing  the 
regiment  to  report  at  Jacksonville,  Florida,  where  they  ar- 
rived May  29.  When  the  Fourth  Illinois  was  placed  on 
provost  duty  in  Jacksonville,  September  28,  Company  H 
occupied  Station  No.  i,  at  Forsythe  &  Jefferson  streets  and 
remained  there  till  their  removal  to  Savannah,  Georgia, 
where  they  occupied  Station  No.  8,  at  Franklin  Square, 
near  the  Yamacrow.  . 

Company  H  was  the  last  of  the  Fourth  Illinois  to 
leave  Jacksonville,  and  had  charge  of  the  prisoners,  fifteen 
in  number. 

On  Thanksgiving  day  Company  H's  mess  hall  at 
Franklin  Square  was  invaded  by  a  number  of  the  ladies  of 
that  district,  who  served  the  members  of  the  company  with 
a  bountiful  repast.  This  was  under  the  leadership  of  Miss 
M.  L.  Landershine,  of  Savannah,  and  is  an  event  which 
will  never  be  forgotten  by  Company  H. 

The  company  was  relieved  from  provost  duty  in  Sa- 
vannah by  Company  C,  of  the  Second  South  Carolina  on 
December  5,  and  then  took  up  quarters  with  the  regiment 
at  the  Dale  avenue  camp.  On  New  Years'  day,  1899,  an 
order  was  received  to  the  effect  that  the  Fourth  Illinois 
would  leave  for  Cuba,  January  3.  The  next  day  all  were 
busy  packing  up  and  writing  farewell  letters  to  friends. 

During  the  trip  only  a  few  from  Company  H  escaped 
the  experience  of  being  sea-sick.  Upon  our  debarkation  at 
Havana  the  entire  company  was  placed  on-  guard  at  the 
wharves  where  the  baggage  was  placed  waiting  transporta- 
tion. About  noon,  January  8,  Company  H  was  relieved  by 
Company  D,  and  then  proceeded  to  the  camp  which  was 
distant  about  five  miles.  Some  of  the  boys  rode  on  the 
wagons  while  others  more  curiously  inclined  preferred  to 
walk  and  take  in  the  sights.  Several  had  cameras  and 
many  interesting  scenes  were  procured.  All  arrived  in 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  22 7 

camp  in  due  time  for  supper  and  were  much  pleased  to  find 
their  tents  all  ready  to  receive  them. 

On  January  22,  1899,  the  company  accompanied  the 
Third  Battalion  of  which  it  was  a  part  on  a  practice  march 
to  the  City  of  Guines,  which  is  forty-eight  kilometers  (thirty 
miles)  from  Havana  and  a  little  east  of  south  in  direction. 
The  entire  march  covered  a  distance  of  nearly  seventy- 
eight  miles,  the  battalion  arrived  in  Camp  Columbia  at  9 
A.  M.,  January  29.  On  January  24,  while  in  camp  at 
Guines,  they  were  visited  by  General  Lee.  That  night  a 
ball  was  given  in  his  honor  by  the  residents  of  the  city. 

The  day  before  the  return  to  camp  the  battalion  was 
camped  near  the  shores  of  the  harbor  of  Havana  and  not 
far  from  a  powder  magazine  which  had  at  one  time  been 
used  by  the  Spanish  army?  A  great  deal  of  ammunition 
had  been  thrown  into  the  harbor  by  the  Spaniards,  and 
"Major  Elliot's  Indians,"  having  located  the  spot,  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  get  some  of  the  ammunition  for  souven- 
iers.  Quite  a  number  of  cartridges  and  other  articles  were 
"  fished  "  out  by  the  enthusiastic  boys.  During  the  night 
of  February  13  the  entire  company  was  compelled,  through 
necessity,  to  turn  out  in  a  heavy  wind  and  rain  storm  to 
hold  their  tents  down.  The  weather  was  cold  enough  to 
make  overcoats  very  comfortable. 

On  Februaay  19  the  company  again  started  on  another 
practice  march,  this  time  in  company  with  the  entire  brig- 
ade, which  then  consisted  of  the  Second  South  Carolina 
and  Fourth  and  Ninth  Illinois,  under  command  of  General 
Douglas.  This  march  was  taken  over  the  same  ground 
covered  by  the  Third  Battalion,  of  the  Fourth  Illinois,  the 
month  previous.  On  February  23  the  brigade  passed  in 
review  before  General  Gomez,  the  great  Cuban  commander. 
This  was  in  the  city  of  Guines,  Cuba.  On  April  3  the  or- 
der came  directing  the  regiment  to  move  at  once  to  the 


228  HISTORY    OF    THE 

United  States  and  prepare  for  muster  out.  The  packing' 
up  was  done  that  night,  and  the  next  day  the  First  and 
Second  Battalions  left  for  the  wharf.  About  noon  an  or- 
der came  directing  the  Third  Battalion  to  wait  until  the 
Friday  following.  When  Friday  came  no  boat  came  with 
it,  so  we  waited  until  the  I2th,  when  the  return  trip  was 
begun.  Leaving  Havana  about  6  P.  M.  we  soon  struck  a 
very  rough  sea,  and  the  little  river  boat,  which  carried  us, 
had  a  hard  time  getting  across,  but  upon  striking  the  west 
coast  of  Florida  the  gulf  became  very  tranquil,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  the  trip  was  very  pleasant. 

Landing  at  the  United  States  quarantine  station 
at  Egmont  Key,  on  the  morning  of  the  I4th,  we  were 
held  there  'till  the  next  Monday  (i/th),  when  we  proceeded 
to  Port  Tampa  and  took  the  cars  for  Augusta,  Georgia. 
Arriving  in  Augusta  on  the  evening  of  the  i8th  and  staying 
aboard  the  train  that  night,  we  went  into  camp  with  the 
rest  of  the  regiment  and  work  was  at  once  begun  on  the 
company  books,  getting  ready  to  once  more  become  citi- 
zens. This  work  finally  completed.  Company  H  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  volunteer  service  of  the  United  States, 
about  noon,  May  12,  1899. 


COMPANY  H  ROSTER. 

Where  not  otherwise  designated  the  members  of  this 
company  were  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on 
the  2Oth  day  of  May,  1898,  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  and 
mustered  out  at  Augusta,  Georgia,  May  2,  1899.  Figures 
following  name  indicate  age. 

WILLIAM  H.  SLANKER,  Captain,  38,  Paris,  111.,  Carpenter. 
WILLIAM  H.  BARR,  First  Lieutenant,  27,  Paris,  111.,  Brick- 
mason;  discharged  at  Savannah,   Ga.,  per  resigna- 
tion, Oct.  19,  1898. 


23O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

WILLIAM  N.  PIPER,  First  Lieutenant,  26,  Paris,  111.,  Har- 
nessmaker;  mustered  in  as  Second  Lieutenant,  com- 
missioned as  First  Lieutenant  Nov.  22,  1898,  vice 
Wm.  H.  Barr.  On  special  duty  as  signal  officer 
from  Dec.  6,  1898  to  Jan.  9,  1899. 

HARRY  E.  SHUTT,  Second  Lieutenant,  26,  Paris,  111., 
Cigarmaker;  enlisted  as  Sergeant,  detailed  Serg- 
eant-Major  of  the  Second  Battalion,  May  20,  1899, 
commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  Nov.  22,  1898, 
vice  Wm.  N.  Piper. 

SERGEANTS. 

Tracy,  Howard  T,  31,  Paris,  111.,  Painter;  absent  on  re- 
cruiting service  June  1 1  to  23,  1898. 

Simons,  Francis  M.,  29,  Paris,  111.,  Laborer. 

Hill,  Moss,  22,  Chrisman,  111.,  Clerk. 

Patterson,  Lockard,  30,  Paris,  111. ,  Painter. 

Rives,  Harry  C.,  23,  Paris,  111.,  Clerk;  enlisted  as  Sergeant, 
appointed  Quartermaster-Sergeant  Dec.  i,  1898. 

Jacobs,  John  O. ,  20,  Laborer;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898, 
as  private,  appointed  Corporal  July  I,  1898,  ap- 
pointed Sergeant  Dec.  I,  1898. 

CORPORALS. 

Buckler,  William  C.,  22,  Paris,  111.,  Printer;  enlisted  as 
Corp.,  reduced  to  ranks  June  28,  1898;  on  special 
duty  in  Engineering  Corps  July  18,  1898;  appointed 
Corp.  Dec.  i,  1898,  reduced  to  ranks  Feb.  22,  1899; 
discharged  at  Havana,  Cuba,  April  12,  1899. 

Lientz,  Ulysess  B.,  26,  Chrisman,  Teamster;  discharged  at 
Hospital,  Ft.  Myer,  June  3,  1899. 

Patterson,  William,  24,  Paris,  111.,  Musician;  detailed  to 
band,  returned  to  Co.  Dec.  24,  1898;  detailed  to 
band  Feb.  9.  1899. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  231 

Boyd,  Enos  A.,  23,  Paris,  111.,  Cook;  discharged  at  Paris, 

111.,  Feb.  3,  1899. 
Lackey,  Ross,  25,  Paris,    111.,  Laborer;  enrolled  as  Corp., 

reduced   to   ranks  June    i,  1898;   appointed  Corp., 

June   24,    1898;  died  at  Third    Division   Hospital, 

Seventh  Army  Corps,  Aug.  16,  1898. 
Wasson,  Orie   E.,  20,  Chrisman,   111.,  Student;  discharged 

at  Savannah,  Ga.,  Dec.  14,  1898. 
Sizemore,  Denver,   M.  26,   Paris,   111.,  Farmer;   appointed 

Corp.  Sept.  i,  1898. 
Conover,  Joseph  C. ,  23,  Chrisman,  111.,  Farmer;  appointed 

Corp.  Dec.  22,  1898. 
Durham,   Herman  E.,  35,  Casey,   111.,  Farmer;  appointed 

Corp.  Dec.  7,  1898. 
Scott,  Purl  A.,  20, iChrisman,  111.,  Student;  on  special  duty 

with   Engineering  Corps  July   18,  1898;   appointed 

Corp.  April  19,  1899. 
Cardwell,    Robert  F. ,    18,   Paris,  111.,   Student;   appointed 

Corp.  July  i,  1898. 
Scott,  Edgar  M.,  28,  Paris,   111.,  Painter;  appointed  Corp. 

June  i,  1898. 
Wetzel,  Thomas  M.,    22,    Paris,    111.,  Laborer;  appointed 

Corp.  June  17,  1898. 

Whalen,   Thomas  W.,  27,  Leroy,   111.,   Photographer;  ap- 
pointed Corp.  July  i,  1898. 
Smith,   William    E.,    26,    Paris,   111.,   Lineman;  appointed 

Corp.  July  i,  1898. 
Cale,  Charles  E. ,  25,  Paris,  111.,  Laborer;  appointed  Corp. 

July  i,  1898;  discharged  at  Havana,  Cuba,  April  10, 

1899. 
Owen,  Stephen  L.,  22, Paris,  111.,  Painter;  appointed  Corp. 

July  i,  1898;  discharged  at  Savannah,  Ga. ,  Nov.  9, 


232  HISTORY    OF    THE 

MUSICIANS. 

Howard,  Edward  T.,  24,  Paris,  111.,  Painter;  transferred  to 

regimental  band  Dec.  24,  1898. 
Fouts,  Bert  B.,  22,  Chrisman,  111.,  Carpenter. 
Russell,    Clark   A.,    22,    Chrisman,    111.,   Clerk;  appointed 

musician  July  I,  1898;  dischargrd  Nov.  I,  1898. 
Kelly,  Waldo  B.,  Casey,  111.,  Printer;  mustered  in  Dec.  i, 

1898;  transferred  to  Co.  from  regimental  band  Dec. 

23,    1898. 

ARTIFICER. 

Barr,  Charles  C.,  24,  Paris,  111.,  Brick-mason;  discharged 
at  Jacksonville,  Fla. ,  for  disability  Aug.  25,  1899. 

Sell,  William,  21,  Paris,  111.,  Carpenter;  appointed  artificer 
September  i,  1898. 

WAGONER 

Wilson,  Stephen  A.,  33,  Paris,  111.,   Drayman. 

COOK. 

Bright,  John  F. ,  22,  Paris,  111.,  Hostler;  appointed  com- 
pany cook  January  19,  1899. 

PRIVATES. 

Anderson,  John,  21,  Kansas,  111.,  Baker;  on  special  duty  in 
regimental  bakery  July  28,  1898,  and  Dec.  6,  1898. 

Augustus,  Willis  O.,  25,  Paris,  111.,  Student;  detailed  to 
Regimental  Hospital  Corps  May  20,  1898,  transfered 
to  United  States  Army  Hospital  Corps  June  27, 
1898. 

Black,  Charles  N.,  30,  Paris,  111.,  Laborer;  on  detached 
duty  as  provost  guard  July  30,  1898 — Aug,  6,  1898, 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  2 33 

discharged  for  disability  at  Jacksonville,   Fla.   Sept. 

21,  1898. 
Brown,    Fred  W. ,    21,    Paris,    111.,  Baker;  on  special  duty 

at   Regimental  bakery   at  Camp   Cuba   Libre,    de- 
tailed to  Regimental  bakery  Dec.  6,  1898. 
Beard,  Aurthur  J.,  20,  «Paris,  111.,  Clerk. 
Black,  Charles  M.,  36,  Charleston,  111.,  Druggist. 
Conklin,  Frank  M.,  Paris,  111..  Fireman. 
Cayton,  Burt,  20,  Paris,  111.,  Laborer. 
Conklin,  Walter,  24,  Paris,  111.,  Laborer. 
Camahan,   David  L. ,    38,   Paris,  111.,  Laborer;  discharged 

September  21,  1898,  for  disability. 
Caster,  Louis,  31,  Rolmore,  111.,  Laborer. 
Clark,  James  M.,  27,  Mattoon,  111.,  Mechanic;  detailed  to 

regimental  stables. 

Ewing,  Alva  A.,  35,  Paris,  111.,  Farmer. 
Fowler,  John  W.,  24,  Tuscola,  111.,  Blacksmith. 
Gage,  Leonard  C. ,  22,  Paris,  111.,  Broom-maker. 
Goodwin,    George  W. ,    21,    Newman,   111.,  Baker;  special 

duty  engineering  corps  July,    1898,    died  at  Third 

Division  Hospital,  September  23,    1898. 
Huffman,   James  F.,   20,   Paris,   111.,   Clerk;  transfered  to 

United  States  Army  Hospital  Corps  June  29,    1898. 
Hardy,  Aurther  E.,  Paris,  111.,  Laborer. 
Bartlett,  John,  25,  Paris,   111.,   Farmer;  mustered  in  June 

20,    1898. 
Boes,  Dan,  22,  Paris,   111.,   Laborer;  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 
Gardner,  Leroy,  35,  Grand  View,  111.,  Carpenter;  mustered 

in  June  20,  1898. 
Holding,  Elton,  18,   Grand  View,   111.,   Farmer;  mustered 

in  June  20,  1898. 
Hardy,    Harley  C.,  19,    Paris,    111.,    Laborer;  mustered  in 

June  20,  1 1 


234  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Keller,  Martillis,  19,   Shelbyville,   111.,   Clerk,   mustered  in 

June  20,  1898. 
Tone,   George   L. ,  19,   Kansas,    111.,   Tailor;     mustered  in 

June  20,  1898. 
Layman,  John  L.,  21,    Paris,    111.,    Hostler;    mustered    in 

June  20,  1898. 
McClellan,  Edward  T..  33,  Paris,  111.,  Painter;  mustered  in 

June  20,  1898;  appointed  company  cook  Aug.   29, 

1898;  relieved  Jan.  18,  1899. 
Mitchell,  Ogden,  20,  Paris,  111.,  Farmer;  mustered  in  June 

20,  1898. 
Moody,  William  I.    F. ,    19,  Paris,  111.,  Plumber;  mustered 

in  June  20,  1898. 

Helm,  Louis  S.,  28,  Paris,  111.,  Jeweler. 
Huston,  Samuel  A.,  19,  Paris,  111.,  Laborer. 
Haish,  William,  21,  Paris,  111.,  Broommaker. 
Inge,  Edwin  A.,  18,  Chrisman,  111.,  Clerk. 
Inge,  George  B.,    19,   Chrisman,    111.,   Painter;  on  special 

duty  at  provost  headquarters  at  Jacksonville,  Fla. , 

and  Savannah,  Ga. ,  until  Jan.  i,  1899. 
Jackson,  Charles  T.,  22,  Paris,  111.,  Laborer. 
Longfellow,  Hiram,  21,  Paris,  111.,  Farmer. 
Logan,  James,    26,    Warrensburg,  O.,  Farmer;  transferred 

to  Hospital  Corps,  U.  S.  A.,  Sept.  19,  1898. 
Mitchell,  Stephen,  18,  Paris,  111.,  Farmer. 
Montgomery,  Isaac,  22,  Ingraham,  111.,  Farmer. 
McMorris,  Charles  E. ,  18,  Metcalf,  111.,   Farmer. 
Moore,  Albert  B.,  21,  Paris,   111.,  Broommaker;  mustered 

in  June  20,  1898. 
Miller,  Harry  A.,  26,  Paris,  111.,  Printer;  mustered  in  June 

20,  1898. 
Nail,  Elmer,,  23,  Paris,   111.,  Carpenter;  mustered  in  June 

20,  1898. 
Quinn,  Geo.  E.,  23,  Paris,  111.,  Farmer. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  235 

Robinson,   Ira  P.,  25,   Kansas,  111.,  Farmer;  mustered   in 

June  20,  1898. 
Sizemore,  Oda,  22,   Paris,  111.,  Painter;  mustered  in  June 

20,  1898;  discharged  at    Paris,   111.,  Jan.  14,  1899. 
Owens,  John  T. ,  19,  Paris,  111.,  Printer;  mustered  in  June 

20,  1898;  honorably  discharged  at  Joseph  Simpson 

Hospital,  Oct.  13,  1898. 
Stark,  Otis  O.,  20,  Kansas,  111.,  Laborer;  mustered  in  June 

20,    1898;  discharged   at  Havana,   Cuba,  April   10, 

1899. 
Bagley,  Chas.   O.,  21,  Paris,  111.,  Photographer;  mustered 

in  June  20,  1898;  transferred  to  United  States  Army 

Hospital  Corps,  Sept.  19,  1898. 
Low,  Edward,  24,  Paris,  111.,  Carpenter;  mustered  in  June 

20,    1898;  transferred    to    Hospital    Corps,   United 

States  Army,  Sept.  16,  1898. 
Newton,  Wm.  R.,  44,  Paris,  111.,  Carpenter. 
Owens,  John  H.,  23,  Chrisman,  111.,  Farmer. 
Owen,  Leslie  A.,  21,  Paris,  111.,  Clerk;  honorably  discharged 

at  Havana,  Cuba.  April  12,  1899. 
Putman,    Homer    C.,    34,    Livingston,    111.,  Broommaker; 

transferred  to  United  States  Army  Hospital  Corps, 

Sept.  n,  1898. 
Poulter,    Harry  E.,   21,    Kansas,   111.,  Laborer;  honorably 

discharged  at  Joseph  Simpson   Hospital,   Feb.    16, 

1899. 

Puyear,  Thomas  A.,  40,    Mattoon,  111.,  Engineer. 
Shaw,  Perry   E.,  18,    Paris,    111.,  Laborer;  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Paris,  March   13,  1899. 
Scott,  Daniel,  26,  Chrisman,  111.,  Clerk. 
Scott,   Samuel,    31,  Chrisman,   111.,  Farmer;  discharged  at- 

Havana,  Cuba,  April  10,  1899. 
Secres,  Albert  M.,  18,  Paris,  111.,  Painter. 
Sarvis,  Wm.  S. ,  35,  Paris,  111.,  Farmer. 


236  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Spires,  Henry,  28,  Paris,  111.,  Butcher;  special  duty;  pro- 
vost guard  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  Aug.  5,  i898-Jan. 
4,  1899. 

Shryers,  Stephen,  26,  Arcola,  111.,  Farmer. 

Trine,  David,  25,  Paris,  111,  Laborer. 

Thompson,  Walter,  19,  Paris,  111.,   Machinist. 

Tierney,  Fred  W. ,  18,  Arcola,  111.,  Farmer. 

Walden,  Levi  W.,  37,  Paris,  111.,  Miller. 

Wyatt,  James,  18,  Chrisman,  111.,  Farmer. 

Wiley,  Charles  H.,  21,  Horace,  111.,  Farmer. 

Wallace,  Claude,  18,  Paris,  111.,  Paper  Hanger;  discharged 
at  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  July  19,  1898,  disability. 

Heap,  Karl  L. ,  21,  Olney,  111.,  Farmer. 

Moss,  Harry,  20,  Chrisman,  Student;  discharged  at  Jack- 
sonville, Fla.,  Aug.  27,  1898,  disability. 

Green,  Carlos  T.,  33,  Tuscola,  111.,  Contractor;  mustered 
in  June  25,  1898;  died  Aug.  8,  1898,  in  the  Second 
Divison  Hospital. 

Wilson,  Walter  A.,  21,  Owensburg,  111.,  Farmer;  mustered 
in  at  Mattoon,  111.,  June  20,  1898;  deserted  Sept. 
20,  1898. 


COMPANY  A. 


CHARLES  M.   DAVIS. 

Charles  M.  Davis  was  born  in  Arcola,  Illinois,  July  27, 
1870,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1887.  Being  of 
a  studious  trend  of  mind  he  wished  to  at  once  take  up  the 
study  of  law,  but  at  the  earnest  desire  of  his  mother,  who 
thought  it  a  part  of  wisdom  for  all  young  men  to  first 
adopt  a  trade  before  entering  a  profession,  he  discarded  for 
the  time  the  idea  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and 
gave  his  attention  awhile  to  architecture. 

In  business  he  was  always  honorable  and  reliable,  of 
industrious  habits  and  of  some  means.  He  is  an  Episco- 
palian in  religion  and  in  1897  joined  the  "Brotherhood  of 
St.  Andrew."  Previous  to  this,  he  was  for  several  years  a 
member  and  secretary  in  the  local  "  Order  of  Good  Temp- 
lars," in  which  he  was  a  very  active  worker. 

Among  his  ancestors  for  generations  back  were  those 
who  participated  in  every  conflict  in  which  the  United 
States  has  been  involved.  There  were  also  among  them 
distinguished  statesmen  and  jurists. 

Capt.  William  Watts  Davis,  his  father,  was  a  Federal 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  commanding  principally  Company 
K,  Seventy-ninth  Regiment  Illlinois  Volunteers,  and  in 
which  service  he  lost  his  eyesight.  His  maternal  great 
grandfather,  Levi  Sterling,  was  an  officer  in  the  American 
Revolution,  and  was  wounded  at  Valley  Forge. 

The  maiden  name  of  Lieutenant  Davis'  mother  was 
Ida  M.  Dolson,  for  many  years  a  prominent  worker  in  Ma- 


- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  239 

sonic  circles,  a  descendent  of  John  Hart  and  James  Wil- 
son, signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Her  fa- 
ther was  a  first  lieutenant  in  the  Black  Hawk  campaign. 
His  grandmother  was  the  daughter  of  a  Welsh  nobleman 
by  the  name  of  Croson.  She  married  Tunis  Dolson,  an 
American  of  wealth  and  prominence. 

In  1888  Charles  joined  the  Illinois  State  Militia,  then 
known  as  Company  A,  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guard. 
Some  time  later  he  entered  the  law  office  of  States  Attor- 
ney James  K.  Breeden,  where  he  remained  until  that  gen- 
tleman sent  him  to  South  Dakota  on  a  business  mission. 
After  eight  months  he  returned  and  was  made  first  sergeant 
in  his  company,  about  the  time  of  the  strike  of  1893,  and 
was  with  them  the  two  months,  having  headquarters  at 
Chicago. 

In  1896  he  joined  a  party  of  excursionists  to  Anniston, 
Alabama,  where  he  accepted  a  position  as  superintendent 
of  the  Novelty  Wood  Works.  This  place  he  resigned  at 
the  call  for  volunteers  in  the  American- Spanish  war. 
Hastening  back  home,  and  as  his  time  in  the  militia  had 
expired,  re-enlisted,  having  then  been  a  member  nearly  ten 
years,  having  been  elected  to  the  first  lieutenancy  in  the 
spring  of  1898.  When,  on  the  26th  of  May,  1898,  Com- 
pany A,  Fourth  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
boarded  the  train  for  Camp  Tanner,  Springfield,  he  went 
as  first  lieutenant  of  that  company.  During  its  year's  serv- 
ics,  both  in  the  United  States  and  Cuba,  he  was  in  com- 
mand about  three  months,  and  although  a  good  drill  mas- 
ter and  strict  disciplinarian,  he  was  conscientious  in  his 
care  for  the  privates'  welfare  in  his  personal  attention  to 
their  mess  and  sickness.  While  duty  came  first,  he  spared 
no  trouble  to  obtain  for  his  men  a  favor  or  pleasure  that 
would  drive  away  the  dull  monotony  of  camp  life.  He  en- 


24O  HISTORY    OF   THE 

forced  obedience  and  proficiency  by  careful"  instruction,  su- 
pervision and  courtesy,  and  remained  with  the  company 
until  mustered  out  at  Savannah,  Georgia. 


RICE  J.   MOORE. 

Rice  J.  Moore  was  born  October  4,  1870,  at  Arcola, 
Illinois.  Lived  with  his  father  on  the  farm  until  nineteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  left  home  for  an  education,  going  to 
the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  School  at  Valparaiso,  Indi- 
ana. After  three  years  in  this  institution  he  returned  home 
and  resumed  life  on  the  farm.  March  31,  1894,  joined 
Company  A,  Fourth  Infantry,  Illinois  National  Guard;  saw 
field  service  in  Chicago  during  the  Chicago  strikes  in  July, 
1894;  appointed  corporal  July  10,  1895;  appointed  quarter- 
master sergeant  March  15,  1897;  commissioned  second 
lieutenant  May  22,  1897;  entered  United  States  service  as 
second  lieutenant,  Fourth  Infantry,  Illinois  Volunteers,  2Oth 
day  of  May,  1898;  detached  from  Fourth  Regiment  July 
25,  1898,  and  assigned  to  engineering  corps  of  Seventh 
Army  Corps.  He  resigned  his  commission  November  9, 
1898. 


HISTORY  OF  COMPANY  A. 

STATE    GUARD    SERVICE. 

The  history  of  this  organization  began  July  9,  1881, 
when,  as  Company  A  of  the  Ninth  Battalion  of  State 
Militia,  it  was  formed  at  Arcola,  Illinois.  William  R. 
Armstrong  was  its  first  captain;  D.  A.  Woodland  and  Al 
Snyder  first  and  second  lieutenants  respectively. 

Enlisted  as  privates  at  this  time  were  S.  A.  D.  Me- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  24! 

Williams  and  E.  E.  Elliot,  both  of  whom  have  served  with 
the  regiment  continuously  from  that  date,  the  former  hav- 
ing attained  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  and  the  latter 
that  of  major  of  the  Third  Battalion.  Lieutenant  Snyder, 
as  he  then  was,  is  now  regimental  quartermaster,  with  rank 
of  captain.  In  this  same  year  (1881)  the  company  was. 
transferred  to  the  Eighth  Regiment,  Illinois  National  Guard.. 
In  1891  the  Eighth  was  changed  to  the  Fourth  Illinois^ 
National  Guard,  but  retained  its  organisation. 

Those  who  have  served  as  captains  of  this  company 
are  Wm.   R.   Armstrong,    D.  A.  Woodland,   J.  W.  Goudy, 
S.    R.   Coan,   E.   E.    Elliot  and  Jos.   P.    Barri  .klow.       Of, 
these,  three  reached  the  rank  of  major:  Armstrong,  Coam 
and  Elliot. 

Those  filling  the  office  of  first  lieutenant  were  D.  A. 
Woodland,  Al  Snyder,  S.  R.  Coan,  Perry  Bowers,  S.  A.  D. 
McWilliams,  J.  P.  Barricklow  and  Charles  M.  Davis. 

The  second  lieutenants  were  Al  Snyder,  F.  E.  Wright, 
S.  R.  Coan,  Perry  Bowers,  E.  E.  Elliot,  J.  P.  Barricklow, 
W.  C.  Conners,  Daniel  Ghere,  Judd  Barricklow  and  Rice 
J.  Moore.  In  addition  to  those  previously  mentioned,  F. 
E.  Wright  also  won  the  promotion  of  major. 

The  first  encampment  was  one  of  five  days,  at  In- 
dianapolis, Ind.,  in  1882.  A  competitive  drill,  in  which 
the  company  took  part,  was  held  there  on  July  4th. 

The  first  real  service  that  the  company  performed  was 
during  the  strike  of  1886  at  East  St.  Louis.  Orders  were 
received  April  10,  and  they  remained  on  duty  two  weeks. 

On  October  12,  1892,  the  company  attended  the 
dedication  of  the  World's  Fair  buildings  at  Chicago.  The 
grand  review  of  the  state's  troops  was  a  magnificent  spec- 
tacle, but  the  march  of  several  hours  over  the  hard  pave- 
ments was  a  severe  one. 

Illinois  Day,   August   23,    1893,  saw  the  state  troops 

16 


242  HISTORY    OF    THE 

once  more  assembled  in  Chicago.  The  company's  quar- 
ters were  at  Windsor  Park.  A  contractor  engaged  to  sup- 
ply all  the  troops  with  food  during  the  two  days  of  their 
stay.  To  this  end  he  erected  a  very  large  tent,  and  the 
boys  were  fed  on  very  tough  beefsteak,  and  what  little 
else  was  provided  was  equally  as  vile.  This  was  too  much 
to  be  endured.  One  morning  the  guy  ropes  were  found 
cut,  the  tent  collapsed,  and  the  dishes  demolished.  The 
boys  had  been  vindicated,  and  contract  beef  came  suddenly 
to  an  end. 

Again  at  Chicago,  service  was  rendered  eleven  days 
beginning  July  9,  1894.  The  company  were  in  quarters  at 
Thirty-ninth  street  and  Wentworth  avenue.  Guard  duty 
was  performed  on  the  Ft.  Wayne  Railway  tracks.  On 
July  1 6,  great  excitement  was  caused  by  the  explosion  of  a 
caisson  on  the  boulevard.  The  company  were  in  line 
promptly,  for  the  impression  was  that  a  riot  had  started. 
However,  nothing  further  came  of  it. 

Logan  Day  occurred  on  July  22,  1897.  The  Fourth 
being  in  State  Encampment  at  Camp  Lincoln,  Springfield, 
left  by  rail  to  attend  the  ceremonies  of  the  unveiling  of  the 
monument. 

The  company  has,  with  its  regiment,  been  in  attend- 
ance at  each  of  the  State  encampments,   and  has  won  for. 
itself  a  full  share  of  credit. 

VOLUNTEER    SERVICE    IN    THE     SPANISH-AMERICAN    WAR. 

With  the  possibility  of  the  State  Guards  being  called 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  came  the  order  for 
recruiting.  After  the  President's  call  for  one  hundred  and 
twenty -five  thousand  volunteers,  the  company  was  almost 
immediately  filled  up  to  its  full  quota,  and  more. 

On  the  evening  of  April  16,  the  ladies  of  Arcola  pre- 
sented Company  A  with  a  beautiful  flag  of  silk.  The  exercises 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  243 

were  held  in  Armory  Hall.  Mrs.  Jno.  R.  Clisby,  in  choice 
thought,  made  the  presentation',  Capt.  Jos.  P.  Barricklow 
responded  on  behalf  of  the  company.  Mr.  George  Cheney 
delivered  a  short  but  stirring  oration  upon  the  "  Impending 
Struggle. "  The  flag  was  not  taken  with  the  company  until 
June  23,  when  upon  the  coming  of  recruits  to  Jacksonville, 
it  was  brought  with  them.  On  several  occasions  the  com- 
pany had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  their  banner  carried  as 
regimental  colors. 

Orders  to  report  at  Springfield  were  received  at  2  :oo 
A.  M.  April  26.  It  was  an  anxious,  expectant  day.  Mem- 
bers of  the  company  hurried  from  their  homes,  from  farm 
and  shop,  from  store  and  school,  and  from  the  neighboring 
towns,  to  the  meeting  place  in  Armory  Hall.  Roll  call 
revealed  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  seven.  The  veterans 
of  '6 1,  stepping  forth  with  the  spirit  of  those  other  stirring 
times,  escorted  the  boys  of  '98  to  the  depot.  At  half  past 
five  in  the  evening,  after  the  tearful  leave-taking  and  the 
last  sorrowful  good-bye  was  spoken,  the  Vandalia  train 
carried  them  away  to  the  untried  perils  of  war. 

The  train  arrived  in  Springfield  at  9:30.  The  boys 
slept  the  remainder  of  the  night  upon  the  cars  with  what 
little  comfort  they  could. 

In  the  first  light  of  the  morning  the  march  of  three 
miles  to  the  State  Fair  Grounds  was  taken  up.  One  or 
two  companies  of  the  Fourth  and  one  of  the  Fifth  regi- 
ment had  preceded  us  into  camp.  Sergeant  Blackwell 
and  Private  McBride,  who,  as  part  of  a  detail  to  accom- 
pany Captain  Snyder,  had  left  Arcola  the  previous  morn.- 
ing,  were  the  first  soldiers  to  arrive  in  Camp  Tanner. 

The  first  breakfast  was  suggestive  of  camp  life.  It  ar- 
rived late.  It  consisted  of  nothing  but  very  tough  beef- 
steak, which  the  cook  issued  to  the  men  as  fast  as  he  could 
fry  it.  But  half  the  boys,  impatient  at  the  long  wait,  cut 


244  HISTORY    OF    THE 

forked  sticks  from  the  trees  and  toasted  their  portions  be- 
fore the  fire. 

Companies  A  and  M  shared  quarters  with  each  other 
in  barn  "  Q,"  which,  during  the  State  Fair,  had  been 
used  for  cattle.  The  companies  occupied  the  opposite 
sides  of  the  building,  both  in  the  loft  above  and  in  the  stalls 
below.  A  detail  of  men  had  carried  each  a  bale  of  straw 
from  one  of  the  sheds  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant, 
and  the  quarters  were  fixed  up  with  a  fair  degree  of  com- 
fort. 

At  first  the  mess  quarters  were  in  the  open,  the  cook- 
ing being  done  on  improvised  brick  furnaces  upon  the  hill- 
side, but  the  weather  being  damp  and  chilly,  and  having 
had  to  eat  in  the  rain  on  the  fourth  day,  a  removal  was 
made  to  the  sheep  and  swine  building,  which  quarters  were 
occupied  the  remainder  of  the  stay  in  Camp  Tanner. 

Sleeping  accommodations  were  not  quite  such  as  to 
satisfy  the  young  men  reared  in  comfortable  homes.  Most 
of  the  boys  had  left  home  without  even  an  overcoat;  the 
military  overcoats  were  far  too  few.  There  was  not  more 
than  ha-lf  enough  blankets,  and  even  these  had  a  provoking 
habit  of  taking  a  leave  of  absence  in  the  night.  One  had 
almost  to  wear  his  blanket  day  and  night  to  keep  it  from 
being  "swiped."  By  the  end  of  the  first  week  Arcola  re- 
sponded to  the  need  which  the  state  had  been  slow  to  pro- 
vide for,  and  some  real  home  "comforts"  came  to  make 
more  endurable  the  chilly  nights. 

One  of  the  first  lessons  to  be  learned  was  one  of  pa- 
tience. It  was  commonly  expected  that  in  a  few  short 
days  the  men  would  be  examined,  the  companies  mustered 
in,  and  the  regiment  hurried  away  to  some  eastern  or  south- 
ern camp.  But  all  the  work  of  organization  and  equipment 
could  not  be  done  in  a  day;  and  while  we  waited  impa- 
tiently, time  hung  heavily  on  the  hands  of  the  men.  They 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  245* 

drilled  in  company  and  drilled  in  squad,  marched  on  dress 
parade  and  made  practice  marches  into  the  city.  These 
grew  especially  irksome  when  we  thought  it  possible  we 
might  have  to  stay  in  Camp  Tanner  all  summer. 

War  is  a  serious  business.  But  men  will  not  always 
be  serious.  When  monotony  threatens  to  overcome  them 
they  seek  diversion.  The  volunteer,  coming,  as  he  does, 
from  such  varied  walks  of  life,  is  especially  fertile  in  means 
of  enlivenment. 

While  the  weather  was  gloomy  without  many  an  hour 
was  whiled  away  in  boxing  and  wrestling,  in  dancing  and 
in  athletic  games.  Some  read  books  and  all  wrote  letters. 
The  old  army  game  of  poker  furnished  entertainment  for 
some  and  beguiled  the  inexperienced  youth  into  a  new 
found  pastime.  Not  last  nor  least  in  the  list  of  amuse- 
ments were  certain  "Initiation  Exercises"  in  which  the 
principal  instruments  were  a  paddle-shaped  board  and  a 
pair  of  stout  and  willing  arms.  No  one  dared  say  he  was 
not  entitled  to  an  initiation.  The  officers,  too,  sometimes 
came  in  for  a  good  share  of  this  enjoyment,  i.  e.,  the  en- 
joyment of  the  boys.  Sometimes  the  poultry-roosts  of  the 
vicinity  suffered  a  depletion  and  the  farmer,  seeing  so  nrany 
bluecoats  in  camp,  put  two  and  two  together  and  rightly 
guessed  that  it  made  four.  But  many  found  more  sober 
enjoyments.  The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  on 
the  grounds,  afforded  interesting  meetings,  entertaining 
games,  and  a  quiet  place  to  read  and  write.  Some  twenty 
additional  men  came  May  15  and  17,  to  recruit  the  com- 
pany to  a  higher  number. 

The  days  preceding  the  physical  examination  was  a 
period  of  much  anxiety  on  the  part  of  the  boys.  The  time 
came  on  the  morning  of  the  i8th  of  May.  Comparatively 
few  of  them  failed  to  pass.  Some  time  previous  an  order 
had  been  issued  to  cut  the  companies  down  to  eighty-one 


246  HISTORY    OF    THE 

men.  Of  the  number  above  this  of  physically  qualified 
men  in  Company  A,  six  found  a  place  upon  the  rolls  of  other 
companies — two  in  Company  I,  three  in  Company  H  and 
one  in  Company  M.  The  remainder  were  sent  home  with 
those  who  had  failed. 

The  date  of  muster  in  followed  close  upon  the  ex- 
amination. At  11:10  A.  M.,  May  20,  Company  A  left  the 
State  Guard  service  to  join  the  volunteer  forces  of  the 
United  States. 

Six  days  later,  according  to  orders  received,  the  Fourth 
Illinois  departed  for  the  South,  leaving  Springfield,  over  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  tracks.  The  Third  Battalion  «did  not 
leave  until  4  o'clock. 

All  were  eager  to  go.  There  had  been  days  when 
the  prospect  for  active  service  looked  gloomy.  Many 
thought  they  might  be  obliged  to  spend  dreary  weeks  in 
the  state  camp  and  at  last  be  sent  back  home.  But  now 
doubt  fled.  We  were  to  go  to  Tampa,  perhaps  in  a  few 
days  to  embark  on  a  voyage  across  the  waters  to  join  our 
brothers  at  Santiago.  There  was  some  little  rumor  that 
our  destination  might  be  Jacksonville.  But  that  mattered 
litfle- — any  change  was  welcomed  that  promised  to  bring 
us  nearer  the  front. 

The  travel  accommodations  were  excellent  and  the 
tourist  sleepers  insured  a  good  rest  tor  each  night. 

This  journey  to  the  Southland  was  a  new  experience 
to  most  of  the  boys,  and  one  which  they  thoroughly  appre- 
ciated. The  men  of  the  regiment  won  attention  both  by 
their  conduct  and  by  their  personal  appearance.  At  Jack- 
son, Tennessee,  a  white-haired  veteran,  looking  up  at 
Private  Craft,  is  said  to  have  remarked:  "If  that  is  the 
size  of  the  men  you  have  up  there,  it's  no  wonder  you 
whipped  us  in  "61." 

It  was  a  continuous  ovation.     The  loyalty  and  hospi- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  247 

tality  of  the  South  was  very  marked.  Perhaps  their  feeling 
about  the  coming  struggle  was  aptly  put,  in  the  words  of  a 
grey-bearded  old  warrior  at  Birmingham,  Alabama.  He 
said"!  received  three  bullets  at  Gettysburg,  but  if  you 
need  me  I  am  ready  to  go  again."  Every  where  we  were 
greated  with  enthusiasm.  We  were  treated  with  especial 
kindness  at  Sylacauga,  Alabama,  and  again  at  Albany, 
Georgia,  where  they  served  lunch  and  lemonade  to  us. 

The  morning  of  the  29th  found  the  long  train  upon 
the  side  track  in  the  midst  of  the  pine  woods.  We  had 
arrived  at  Jacksonville,  for  orders  had  been  changed.  Here 
we  were  to  go  into  encampment  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
north  and  east  of  the  city  proper.  After  breakfast  the 
companies  formed  and  were  marched  to  the  space  assigned 
them.  The  Second  Illinois,  Fiftieth  Iowa  and  First  Wis- 
consin were  already  there  and  our  regiment  took  its  place 
to  the  north  of  them,  i.  e. ,  on  their  left. 

It  was  not  till  evening  that  arrangements  were  com- 
pleted for  the  pitching  of  camp,  and  in  the  meantime  we 
learned  something  of  our  new  environments.  It  was  a  day 
of  intense  heat,  and  blankets  were  spread  over  the  bushes, 
on  poles,  or  in  any  manner  to  afford  a  shelter  from  the 
burning  rays.  The  water  from  the  hydrants  that  had  been 
extended  from  the  city,  though  of  fairly  good  quality,  was 
very  warm.  All  about  was  a  scattering  timber  of  young 
pine.  The  clumps  of  saw  palmetto,  scattered  about  so 
profusely,  formed  a  novel  sight  to  unaccustomed  eyes. 

The  grounds  were  level,  and,  covered  with  grass, 
seemed  a  goodly  sight.  Uninformed  as  to  the  nature  of 
the  country,  men  approached  every  bush  with  caution,  not 
knowing  what  enemy  in  reptile  form  might  lurk  behind.  A 
few  days,  however,  sufficed  to  teach  us  that  this  land  was 
no  wilder  than  others. 

Before  night  fell   the  tents,  which   had   been. brought 


248  HISTORY    OF    THE 

from  the  state,  were  erected.  Each  was  large  enough  to 
accommodate  ten  or  twelve  men.  Companies  A  and  E, 
facing  each  other,  formed  the  last  company  street  on  the 
south. 

Now  followed  days  of  real  camp  life;  of  drills  in  the 
morning  and  dress  parades  in  the  evenings,  and  Saturday 
•morning  inspections.  At  first  the  men  slept,  simply  spread- 
ing their  blankets  upon  the  ground;  then,  byway  of  luxury, 
some  made  their  couch  of  the  ever  present  pine  bough,  and 
some  from  the  abundant  gray  moss  that  hung  from  the 
trees.  After  some  time  a  few  of  the  squads  put  in  floors  of 
lumber,  purchased  cheap  at  the  neighboring  mills.  But 
most  of  the  boys  had  long  before  spent  their  last  nickel, 
and,  without  a  cent  to  buy  a  bit  of  luxury,  lived  roughly  in 
their  tents,  and  subsisted  on  the  coarse  fare  provided,  often 
eating  in  the  rain. 

In  the  midst  of  this  the  volunteer  remained  cheerful. 
He  was  ever  ready  to  sing,  but  it  mattered  not  what.  The 
average  soldier  sang  with  equal  zest  the  songs  of  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  or  those  from  the  opera,  and  the  evening  twilight 
and  the  pine  woods  listened  nightly  to  his  music. 

Two  or  three  weeks  had  passed  when  the  hearts  of 
the  boys  were  gladdened  by  the  receipt  of  various  boxes 
rilled  with  useful  toilet  articles  and  dainty  viands  from 
home.  Never  before  had  edibles  seemed  so  delicious. 

The  long  looked-for  pay  day  came  June  23.  It  was 
the  first,  and  right  well  did  the  boys  appreciate  it. 

On  this  same  day  came  twenty-five  recruits  under  the 
charge  of  Private  Everette  Little,  who  had  been  sent  back 
to  Arcola  for  this  purpose  some  time  previous.  With 
them  they  brought  the  company's  flag,  which  henceforth 
was  to  remain  with  us. 

An  issue  of  blue  shirts  was  made  on  June  24.  The 
men  had  been  very  much  in  need  of  them.  But  we  were 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  249 

now  no  longer  the  "Ragged  Regiment."  The  transforma- 
tion was  quite  striking. 

The  bath  houses  that  were  erected  at  the  rear  of  the 
camp  about  July  ist,  added  quite  a  comfort,  as  well  as 
being  a  necessity. 

July  5,  the  company  with  its  regiment  took  part  in  a 
grand  review  of  the  troops  by  General  Lee.  Unfortunately, 
soon  after  the  line  of  march  was  formed,  it  began  to  drizzle, 
and  before  the  companies  got  back  to  quarters  they  had 
undergone  two  hours  of  a  drenching  rainstorm.  But  all 
bore  it  cheerfully,  and,  strange  to  say,  none  seemed  to  suf- 
fer any  serious  effects  from  it.  But  it  was  yet  to  be  learned 
what  Florida  rains  were.  On  July  10,  it  rained  so  that  the 
water  stood  over  the  low  ground  in  the  company  street. 
Still  raining  all  the  next  day,  the  water  came  up  over  some 
of  the  tent  floors,  and  the  men  were  obliged  to  wade  over 
knee  deep  to  get  across  to  the  mess  quarters.  There  was  now 
nothing  left  to  do  but  to  move  out,  and  accordingly  half 
the  company  transferred  to  the  west  side.  A  ditch  had 
been  dug  along  the  south  side  of  the  camp,  but  it  was  not 
deep  enough  to  drain  the  low  ground.  On  the  third  morn- 
ing Companies  A  and  E  went  to  work  in  the  rain  and  mud 
and  water  building  a  causeway  about  a  hundred  feet  long, 
of  pine  saplings  and  logs,  thus  bridging  over  the  "pond." 
On  this  day,  also,  our  company  labored  to  build  a  mess 
house,  so  that  we  now  had  a  rather  respectable  place  in 
which  to  eat.  Our  first  mess  quarters  had  been  a  mere 
shack  of  poles,  roofed  over  in  a  rough  way  with  pine 
boughs.  The  soot  from  the  pine-log  fire  painted  and  re- 
painted this  primitive  canopy  as  often  as  the  rains  from 
above  washed  it  out.  In  the  way  of  an  improvement  later 
on,  a  board  roof  had  been  placed  over  the  kitchen  part. 

On  the  evening  of  July  14,  some  excitement  was 
caused,  when,  after  dusk  the  order  came  down  the  line  for 


250  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  men  to  fall  in  with  rifles  and  side  arms.  The  first 
thought  was  that  some  serious  trouble  was  on  hand,  need- 
ing our  services.  Even  some  that  were  ailing  left  their 
cots  to  join  in  something  that  promised  a  bit  of  excitement. 
After  we  were  in  line  with  the  rest  of  the  companies,  some 
one  remembered  that  Governor  Tanner  was  coming  to 
visit  the  Illinois  regiments.  This  surmise  proved  correct, 
for  we  were  marched  to  the  depot;  but  as  he  did  not  come 
that  evening  our  march  was  repeated  next  morning. 

Twenty  of  our  men,  with  a  like  detail  from  the  other 
companies,  went  upon  the  rifle  range,  July  28.  Captain 
Muench  of  Company  L,  was  in  charge.  Some  good  scores 
were  made.  August  8th  saw  the  removal  of  our  regiment 
to  Panama  Park,  two  miles  to  the  north  of  us,  where  it 
was  placed  with  the  Third  Division. 

Now  came  the  season  of  our  greatest  trial.  The  un- 
sanitary condition  of  our  other  camp,  the  coarse  food,  to- 
gether with  inexperienced  cooking,  the  dull  monotony,  the 
steady  heat  of  the  sun,  and  the  presence  of  the  dread 
malaria  and  typhoid  in  the  very  air,  all  combined  to  make 
a  condition  under  which  the  constitution  of  our  men  began 
to  give  way.  Heretofore  there  had  been  but  little  sickness. 
Up  to  the  3d  of  August  there  had  never  been  more  than 
three  upon  the  company's  sick  report  at  any  one  time.  But 
now  it  seemed  that  one  after  another,  and  in  two's  and 
three's,  they  would  have  to  be  taken  to  the  hospital. 

Added  to  this  was  the  doubt  as  to  whether  the  regi- 
ment would  remain  in  the  service,  and  the  discontent 
aroused  over  the  absurd  rumor  that  the  men  might  be 
allowed  to  decide  for  themselves. 

At  times  there  was  hardly  a  score  of  men  fit  for  duty. 
Things  were  fast  moving  toward  a  demoralized  state,  when 
a  change  came  for  the  better  in  an  order  for  the  regiment's 
removal  to  Jacksonville  to  do  provost  duty. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  251 

Before  leaving  Panama  we  were  called  upon  for  the 
first  time  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  comrade.  Allen  F.  Clare 
had  come  with  the  recruits  in  June.  It  seems  that  the 
fever  had  fastened  its  fangs  upon  him  almost  from  the  very 
first.  He  was  sick  in  quarters  almost  continuously  after 
August  2.  A  furlough  was  granted  him  September  9,  but 
ere  he  reached  home  a  mortal  illness  was  upon  him. 
After  lingering  three  days,  he  died  at  his  home  in  Loving- 
ton,  111.,  September  15,  1898.  Thus,  in  the  cause  of  his 
country,  in  the  flower  of  his  youth,  had  he  been  cut  down 
by  the  soldier's  worst  foe. 

All  the  companies  had  gone  but  A  and  E  when  we 
broke  camp  September  30.  In  the  evening  of  that  day  we 
pitched  our  tents  next  neighbors  to  Company  C,  with 
whom  we  were  to  take  up  the  work  at  Provost  Station  No. 
2  in  the  north  central  part  of  Jacksonville.  All  that  night 
and  the  next  day  the  wind  blew  a  gale  and  the  rain  fell  in 
gusty  showers.  We  awoke,  to  find  some  of  the  tents 
down  and  several  trees  uprooted.  Awakening  almost  any 
hour  of  the  night,  one  could  hear  some  one  resetting  his 
tent  stakes.  Amidst  the  storm  our  men  went  on  duty  next 
morning  at  General  Lee's  headquarters  and  at  the  city 
waterworks. 

The  death  of  Sydney  Matters  on  the  6th  of  October, 
came  as  a  terrible  shock,  alike  to  his  comrades  and  to  his 
friends  at  home.  He  had  been  under  treatment  of  a 'resi- 
dent physician  for  a  periodic  trouble.  He  had  gone  that 
morning  requesting  an  operation.  But  at  the  moment  of 
its  beginning  he  was  seized  with  convulsions  and  died. 
Poor  Syd!  whole-hearted,  generous,  best  loved  comrade! 
He  had  long  expected  his  furlough  but  for  some  reason  it 
was  never  granted.  How  much  his  disappointment  had  to 
do  with  the  hastening  of  his  death  we  cannot  tell.  Sadly 


252  HISTORY    OF    THE 

we  accompanied  his  remains  to  the  depot  whence  they  were 
shipped  home  to  be  buried  in  the  Arcola  cemetery. 

Hardly  more  than  a  week  passed  by  ere  death  came 
again  into  our  midst.  James  Robertson  died  in  the  Third 
Division  Hospital,  October  14,  carried  away  by  a  brief  at- 
tack of  typhoid  fever.  A  telegram  was  sent  to  the  address 
of  his  mother  in  Indiana,  but  no  mother  answered.  When 
a  reply  did  come  back  it  was  that  there  was  no  one  to  as- 
sume the  expense  and  that  he  should  be  buried  at  Jackson- 
ville. Arrangements,  however,  had  already  been  made  to 
do  so.  These  circumstances  made  his  funeral  a  peculiarly 
sad  one.  We  followed  his  body  to  its  sepulcher  on  the 
sandy  slope.  The  bugles  played  taps  over  his  open  grave, 
and,  firing  the  parting  salute,  we  left  him  there  with  the 
tall  pines  above  him  to  guard  his  resting  place. 

The  events  of  these  few  days  did  nothing  to  dispel  the 
gloom  that  was  settling  upon  the  men.  Jacksonville,  with 
which  our  first  acquaintance  had  been  one  of  pleasure,  now 
seemed  little  short  of  a  pest  hole.  Is  it  little  wonder, 
then,  that  we  received  the  order  to  report  at  Savannah 
with  new  and  eager  hopes?  We  were  one  of  the  first  four 
companies  to  depart,  leaving  over  the  Plant  System  rail- 
way near  midnight  of  October  20.  We  arrived  at  our 
destination  about  7  o'clock  next  morning.  It  was  prophetic 
of  our  later  experience  that  we  left  Jacksonville  in  the  rain 
and  entered  Savannah  in  sunshine. 

Companies  A  and  K  were  assigned  to  Station  No.  3 
and  went  into  camp  on  the  wide  green  in  the  center  of 
Oglethorpe  avenue  and  on  opposite  sides  of  Habersham 
street.  Police  headquarters  were  but  half  a  block  south  of 
us,  and.  in  these  grounds  we  were  allowed  to  have  our  mess 
quarters. 

At  first  the  people  of  Savannah  looked  with  doubt  and 
misgiving  upon  the  coming  of  the  soldiers.  But  such  was 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  253 

the  uniformly  good  behavior  of  our  men,  and  the  firmness 
and  vigor  with  which  they  dealt  not  only  with  the  dis- 
orderly volunteers  but  with  the  unruly  negro  or  white  citi- 
zen as  well,  that  they  won  respect  and  approval,  admira- 
tion and  friendship,  in  turn.  Nor  could  any  people  have 
treated  us  better,  more  kindly  or  more  hospitably  than  did 
these.  We  were  received  into  their  houses  like  sons  and 
brothers,  and  many  a  little  comfort  and  many  a  delicacy 
found  its  way  to  our  tents.  It  was  a  usual  occurrence  for 
the  sentinel,  as  he  went  on  post  in  the  early  morning,  to 
find  a  cup  of  hot  coffee  ready  to  be  handed  out  to  him  by 
some  kind-hearted  lady. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  describe  our  duties  as  provost 
guards.  It  was,  in  reality,  police  work.  Suffice  it  to  say 
that  the  men  did  their  duty  fearlessly  and  well.  Our  dis- 
trict was  known  as  Crawford  ward,  and  men  were  not 
allowed  to  enter  except  under  special  and  limited  passes. 

When  November  24  came  the  good  people  of  Savan- 
nah outdid  all  previous  generosity  in  the  spreading  of  a 
magnificent  Thanksgiving  dinner  for  the  twelve  thousand 
soldier  boys  encamped  in  and  around  the  city.  Our  two 
companies  were  feasted  near  Chatham  Artillery  Hall,  K  at 
i  o'clock  and  we  at  3.  Can  we  ever  be  grateful  enough,  or 
speak  too  much  in  praise  of  such  hospitality?  And  to  the 
Savannah  ladies  we  must  give  full  credit  for  their  tireless 
efforts  and  skillful  planning. 

November  25  we  gave  up  our  old  Springfield  rifles  in 
exchange  for  new  United  States  magazine  rifles.  After 
more  than  two  months  of  provost  duty,  our  regiment  was 
relieved  and  removed  to  the  country  camp.  Such  was  the 
satisfaction  we  had  given  that  the  police  department,  fire 
department,  mayor  and  citizens  joined  in  a  petition  for  our 
retention.  But  it  availed  nothing.  Our  company  broke 


254  HISTORY   OF    THE 

camp  December  5,  and  was  relieved  by  Company  I,  of  the 
Ninth  Illinois. 

It  seemed  a  bit  odd  to  get  back  into  company  drills 
and  regimental  drills  once  more,  but  old  habits  soon  reas- 
serted themselves. 

We  were  encamped  partly  in  a  meadow,  partly  in  a 
peanut  field,  a  very  nice  location  withal. 

The  days  were  now  getting  rather  cool.  A  damp  wind 
often  blew  in  from  the  ocean,  making  it  very  chilly  and 
disagreeable.  On  the  night  of  December  9,  and  on  sev- 
eral others,  ice  formed  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick,  and  one 
morning  we  awoke  to  find  a  sleet  upon  the  ground  and 
trees.  This  was  unusual  for  Savannah.  It  was  not  exact- 
ly comfortable  for  open  air  meals. 

The  army  stoves,  which  were  provided  us  December 
10,  afforded  much  comfort.  For  the  benefit  of  those  who 
have  never  seen  a  government  stove,  one  is  briefly  described 
here:  A  funnel  of  sheet-iron  about  twenty  inches  high  in- 
verted over  a  shallow  pit  in  the  ground,  four  inches  wide 
at  the  top  and  eighteen  at  the  bottom;  an  inverted  A  shaped 
notch  at  the  bottom  for  the  admission  of  air;  a  door  on  the 
side  fastened  with  ordinary  hinges;  three  or  four  joints  of 
four-inch  stove  pipe.  The  tents  were  arranged  in  clusters 
of  threes,  all  facing  the  little  square,  in  the  center  of  which 
was  the  stove. 

Our  regiment  joined  in  the  grand  review  before  Presi- 
dent McKinley  December  17.  The  companies  were  well 
filled  up,  averaging  eight  sets  of  fours.  Not  since  the  early 
days  at  Jacksonville  had  we  gone  out  with  such  full  com- 
panies. 

As  the  year  drew  to  a  close  we  began  to  feel  assured 
that  we  should  be  taken  across  to  Cuba.  Amongst  other 
special  preparations,  good,  strong  boxes  were  made,  each 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  255 

large  enough  to  hold   the  extra  goods  of  six  men.     These 
proved  very  substantial  in  the  rough  handling  of  shipping. 

Reveille  sounded  early  on  the  morning  of  January  3,  for 
orders  had  been  received  to  embark  on  the  Mobile  that  day. 
It  was  almost  like  parting  with  our  own  home  friends  to 
leave  the  Savannah  people.  We  had  had  a  happy  stay 
with  them. 

Our  great  ship,  with  both  the  Fourth  and  Ninth  Illi- 
nois on  board,  moved  off  at  1 1:30,  dropping  down  the  river 
with  the  tide.  From  window  and  door  of  every  factory 
and  home,  a  multitude  waved  us  farewell.  The  voyage 
upon  the  sea  was  without  particular  incident,  though  it  was 
a  new  experience  to  the  greater  number  of  us.  At  11:25 
A.  M.,  January  5,  we  first  caught  sight  of  the  high  coast 
line  of  Cuba;  after  fifty  hours  of  ocean  journey  we  slowly 
drew  in  under  the  grim  old  walls  of  Castle  Morro,  into  the 
great  Havana  harbor,  past  the  wreck  of  the  Maine,  to  our 
landing  place.  Here  we  were  obliged  to  lay  two  days  be- 
fore the  ship  could  finish  unloading.  On  the  afternoon  of 
the  /th  we  made  the  march  to  our  camp,  located  nearly 
seven  kilometers  (about  four  miles)  northwest  from  the  city. 

So  strangely  different  from  the  familiar  scenes  of 
homeland,  the  succession  of  new  and  unexpected  sights 
was  almost  overwhelming.  Streets  were  narrow,  crooked, 
and  filthy;  doors  and  windows  of  homes  barred.  There 
were  great  ox-carts  and  little  horse-cars.  Everywhere 
strange  scenes  met  our  eye  and  a  strange  tongue  greeted 
our  ears.  A  curious  throng  looked  on  as  we  passed  by. 
There  were  ragged,  unkempt  children  and  naked  infants. 
At  almost  every  home  men,  women,  or  children,  waved  the 
Cuban  flag  in  one  hand  and  with  the  other  the  Stars  and 
Stripes.  Every  appearance  of  our  beloved  banner  was 
greeted  with  a  burst  of  cheers. 

As  we   passed   out  of  the   city  into   the  country  still 


256  HISTORY    OF   THE 

other  novel  sights  met  our  gaze.  Stone  walls  and  cactus 
hedges  served  as  fences.  A  fortified  hill  appeared  on  our 
right,  and  one  with  a  block  house  upon  it  some  distance  to 
the  left.  We  crossed  a  fine  little  stream  of  clear  water, 
with  a  waterfall  a  few  yards  below.  Our  winding,  hilly 
road  led  us  through  several  suburban  villages.  We  reached 
the  site  of  our  camp  in  the  evening,  and  pitched  our  tents 
on  the  red  hill  slope  overlooking  the  sea,  two  miles  away. 
A  row  of  royal  palms  extended  along  the  south  side,  and  a 
lane  of  banana  led  off  from  the  north. 

Our  large  new  tents,  I4X  14,  were  erected  before  night 
fall,  and  six  men  occupied  each.  That  night  the  rain  fell 
heavily.  We  had  not  had  time  to  dig  trenches  around  our 
tents  and  some  of  the  squads  awoke  to  find  themselves  in 
several  inches  of  water  that  had  filled  the  hollows.  The 
next  morning  we  wondered  if  we  would  ever  enjoy  this 
Cuban  experience,  for  the  pasty,  red  soil  seemed  worse 
than  the  black  mud  of  Illinois. 

On  the  third  day  of  our  encampment  we  were  issued 
good,  substantial  folding  cots.  These  provided  much 
toward  our  health  as  well  as  comfort. 

Now  followed  days  of  the  usual  routine  of  camp  duties, 
the  boys  using  their  spare  time  in  getting  acquainted  with 
the  country  around  us. 

Not  a  little  stir  was  created  when  we  learned  that  the 
Third  Battalion  was  ordered  on  an  eight-day  march  to 
Guines,  thirty  miles  southeast  of  Havana.  We  left  Camp 
Columbia  near  8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  January  22, 
Major  Elliott  in  command.  The  band  accompanied  us  for 
a  mile  or  more.  The  men  were  in  cheerful  and  expectant 
spirits.  Our  road  led  us  northeast  through  El  Cerro,  Tuli- 
pan,  and  Jesus  del  Monte,  suburbs  of  Havana.  Turning 
to  the  east  through  this  latter  place,  and  then  to  the  south- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  257 

east,  which  general  direction  we  followed  all  the  way,  we 
soon  left  the  city  to  our  backs. 

The  roadway  was  well  built  of  crushed  rock.  Every 
culvert  and  bridge  was  substantially  made  of  stone,  or  brick 
and  iron.  A  short  post  of  gray  rock  marked  each  kilometer 
and  its  number  from  the  city. 

On  our  left,  as  we  left  Jesus  del  Monte,  the  great  har- 
bor remained  in  view  for  some  distance,  while  on  our  right, 
a  mile  away  appeared  a  series  of  fortified  hills. 

At  noon  we  reached  San  Francisco  de  Paula.  A  mile 
farther  we  left  the  winding  hill  road  and  emerged  upon  the 
more  level  upland.  About  I  we  reached  the  village  of 
Cotorro,  near  which  we  pitched  our  camp.  We  had! 
marched  twelve  miles  and  a  half  and  were  somewhat  tiredv 
yet  much  pleased  with  the  interesting  things  we  had  seen. 

The  village  had  had   four  block-houses  to  protect  it. 
These  structures,  for  the  most  part  of  stone,  and  two-thirds 
of  them  in  ruins,  became  a  familiar  sight  ere  the  end  of  our 
journey  was  reached. 

This  was  our  first  night  under  field  tents.  We  made 
an  early  start  next  morning  and  traveled  with  much  more 
ease  than  on  the  previous  day.  Four  miles  out  from 
Cotorro  we  crossed  a  fine  little  stream  of  pure  water  that 
afforded  us  a  good  watering  place.  Three  miles  farther  we 
passed  the  peaks  of  Somorostro,  tall,  rocky  masses  that 
rose  on  each  side  of  our  road  to  the  height  of  about  four 
hundred  feet. 

We  passed  through  San  Jose  at  10:30,  and  twenty 
minutes  later  reached  a  second  camping  place.  We  had 
again  marched  about  twelve  miles. 

The  third  day  we  passed  through  the  hills  of  Candela, 
from  whose  summit  we  caught  an  indistinct  vision  of  the 
Caribbean.  Three  miles  further  lay  our  destination.  At 

17 


258  .  HISTORY    OF    THE 

10:30  we  had  established  our  camp  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  Guines. 

We  found  this  to  be  a  place  of  about  ei^ht  thousand 
inhabitants.  There  were  nine  or  ten  block-houses  sur- 
rounding the  town,  but  nearly  all  were  in  ruins. 

We  remained  in  encampment  here  three  days,  includ- 
ing that  of  our  arrival.  General  Lee  came  down  from 
Havana  the  first  day,  and,  escorted  by  some  two  hundred 
Cuban  cavalrymen,  visited  our  camp. 

A  battalion  of  the  Second  Louisiana,  which  had  been 
sent  out  under  orders  similar  to  our  own,  arrived  on  the 
day  following. 

The  people  received  us  kindly,  and  altogether  our 
short  stay  amongst  them  was  both  pleasant  and  profitable. 

We  broke  camp  once  more  at  6:15  the  morning  of  the 
27th.  We  made  a  particularly  good  march  this  day,  for 
at  12:50  we  reached  the  watering  place  previously  men- 
tioned, a  distance  of  eighteen  and  one-half  miles. 

The  next  forenoon  we  encamped  at  Luyano,  in  sight 
of  the  harbor,  and  the  third  morning  we  marched  into  the 
home  camp,  led  by  the  band  that  had  come  a  mile  or  so  to 
meet  us.  Colonel  Swift  complimented  both  commander 
and  men  on  their  good  appearance  after  their  long  march. 

The  days  of  February  I2th  and  I3th  were  very  stormy 
ones,  the  wind  blowing  a  gale  from  the  north  and  the  rain 
falling  in  gusty  showers.  Many  found  it  chilly  enough  to 
wear  an  overcoat. 

February  19  found  us  for  the  second  time  upon  the 
march  to  Guines.  This  time  it  was  the  entire  brigade — the 
Second  South  Carolina,  Ninth  and  Fourth  Illinois  regi- 
ments. W7e  followed  the  same  route  as  before  and  there- 
fore it  was  not  entirely  a  new  experience  to  a  part  of  us. 

On  the  evening  of  the  second  day  we  pitched  our 
camp  on  the  southern  slope  of  Lomas  de  Candela  (Candela 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  2 59 

Hills).  The  ground  was  very  stony,  fit  hiding  places  for 
more  than  one  centipede  that  was  found  ere  we  made  our 
couch  for  the  night.  The  following  day  we  did  not  break 
camp  till  at  noon.  The  forenoon  was  spent  in  the  man- 
ner usual  to  the  American  soldiers  when  he  has  a  bit  of 
leisure  time,  viz. :  in  exploration  and  investigation.  It  is  a 
part  of  his  nature  to  do  so. 

A  grove  of  bananas  and  cocoanut  palms  that  stood  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  to  our  west  claimed  first  attention.  We 
had  never  seen  quite  so  much  of  the  first  in  one  patch. 
Some  of  the  boys  amused  themselves  with  their  pistols  in 
shooting  the  cocoanuts  from  the  clusters.  Some  one  early 
discovered  a  great  cave  up  near  the  hill  top.  Most  of  us 
had  the  good  fortune  to  see  this  wonder  of  nature.  The 
entrance  was  rather  difficult  to  find,  the  ground  being  so 
overgrown  with  shrubbery.  There  was  no  beautiful  stalac- 
tite formation,  only  damp  and  dirty  walls.  There  were 
great  rooms,  and  narrow  winding  passageways.  One  dome- 
shaped  apartment  was  about  thirty  feet  across;  an  aperture 
in  the  center  opened  out  into  the  sunlight  above.  We 
left  the  cavern  by  another  opening  which  we  afterwards 
found  to  be  several  hundred  yards  west  from  that  where 
we  had  entered. 

At  2  :oo  in  the  afternoon  we  moved  on  to  Guines,  the 
Third  Battalion  leading  the  way.  Our  camp  was  estab- 
lished near  a  swift  flowing  stream  of  pure  water,  about  a 
mile  northeast  of  the  city.  Here  we  remained  until  Fri- 
day morning  the  24th.  Many  of  our  friends,  whose  ac- 
quaintance we  had  formed  when  on  our  previous  visit  came 
out  from  the  town  to  see  us.  The  22d  being  Washington's 
birthday,  we  formed  a  parade  through  the  principal  streets. 
General  Gomez  witnessed  the  review  of  the  troops. 

The  evening  of  the  first  day's  return  march  brought  us 


26O  HISTORY    OF   THE 

again  to  the  Somorostros.  The  other  regiments  were  not 
with  us. 

We  had  not  stretched  our  tents  a  half  hour  till  shouts 
from  the  hill-top  proclaimed  that  several  adventurers  had 
already  scaled  the  steep,  rocky  ascent.  Soon  all  sorts  of 
reports  were  coming  in  as  to  the  strange,  wild  creatures  to 
be  seen  up  there.  Matthews  found  a  meek-eyed  house  cat 
that  had  had  both  ears  and  tail  abbreviated,  and  with  a 
stout  cord  tied  it  to  his  tent  pole.  The  news  got  out,  and 
boys  were  to  be  seen  coming  from  all  parts  of  the  camp  to 
see  the  "  mountain  lion." 

It  need  not  be  told  here  how,  during  our  stay,  the 
boys  gathered  bucketfuls  of  honey  from  a  great  natural 
hive  in  the  rock,  nor  how  they  found  and  entered  a  snake 
den,  capturing  some  of  the  reptiles;  for  these  will  very 
probably  appear  in  the  story  of  the  other  companies. 

We  rambled  over  nearly  every  foot  of  the  sharp, 
craggy  summits.  We  found  wild  oranges,  limes  and 
guava  upon  the  hillsides,  and  many  varieties  of  small  wood. 
From  the  topmost  tree  we  could  see  the  waters  of  the 
northern  coast  about  fifteen  miles  away. 

On  the  evening  of  the  26th,  orders  came  to  break 
camp  once  more.  So  unexpected  to  the  boys  was  this, 
that  quite  a  number  were  beyond  the  peaks,  and  out  of 
range  of  the  bugles.  But  most  of  them  got  back  in  time 
to  join  their  companies  in  line,  if  they  did  miss  their  supper. 

It  was  about  5  o'clock  when  we  left.  Marching  about 
three  miles  we  entered  the  village  of  Carninoso.  Here  we 
turned  to  the  south.  A  fairly  good  road  led  out  for  two 
or  three  miles,  but  after  that  it  became  nothing  better  than 
an  ox-cart  track,  narrow,  often  deep  rutted  and  stony,  and 
sometimes  sunken  ten  or  fifteen  feet  below  the  surrounding 
country.  Night  coming  upon  us  added  nothing  to  the  con- 
venience of  our  traveling.  At  a  quarter  of  eight  we  reached 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  26 1 

Managna,  a  town  of  considerable  size,  twenty  kilometers 
south  of  Havana.  Here  we  entered  another  good  road, 
similar  to  the  other  by  which  we  had  left  Havana.  An 
hour  and  a  half  more  of  marching  brought  us  to  a  camping 
place  for  the  remainder  of  the  night.  We  had  come  about 
thirteen  miles.  Without  further  incident  we  reached  our 
home  camp  at  12  o'clock  next  day,  tired  enough,  and  glad 
to  get  a  rest.  Colonel  Swift  praised  his  men  for  their 
cheerfulness,  and  was  pleased  and  satisfied  with  their  con- 
duct. The  remaining  days  in  Camp  Columbia  were  un- 
eventful. All  felt  that  the  time  was  drawing  near  when  we 
should  recross  the  waters  to  the  home  land. 

But  we  were  enjoying  ourselves.  Never  had  there 
been  a  better  condition  of  health.  The  weather  was  of  the 
very  finest.  It  was  not  often  it  rained;  in  fact,  there  was 
none  in  the  last  seven  weeks  of  our  stay. 

Daily  we  were  acquiring  valuable  information.  Many 
a  pleasant  hour,  away  from  camp  duties,  we  spent  by  the 
seaside,  roaming  over  the  fields,  in  the  villages,  or  in  the 
great  city  itself.  We  learned  much  of  the  country,  its  soil 
and  its  products;  of  the  people,  their  language,  their  cus- 
toms and  their  social  conditions. 

Our  battalion  went  aboard  the  side-wheel  steamer 
Whitney,  April  12.  The  other  two  had  gone  a  week  be- 
fore. Just  as  the  sun  went  down  we  passed  out  the  harbor, 
bidding  goodby  to  Cuban  scenes  and  Cuban  experiences, 
that  were  ours  no  longer,  except  in  memory. 

On  the  morning  of  the  second  day  we  were  unloaded 
at  Egmont  Key,  where  we  remained  in  quarantine  three 
days.  We  were  at  the  entrance  to  Tampa  Bay,  Florida. 
The  barbed  wire  enclosure,  in  which  we  were  tented,  was 
much  like  a  prison  to  the  boys,  for  we  could  not  leave  it 
except  on  duty.  Each  day  we  were  examined  by  the 
United  States  Surgeons,  but  not  a  man  was  sick.  Our 


262  HISTORY    OF    THE 

blankets  had  been  fumigated  when  we  first  came  off  the 
boat,  and  our  other  goods  later. 

The  pilot  boat  Margaret  carried  us  away  from  Camp 
Detention  on  the  morning  of  April  i/th.  We  reached  Port 
Tampa  at  noon.  After  several  hours  wait,  while  our  bag- 
gage was  being  transferred  to  the  train,  we  took  the  Plant 
System  line  for  the  north.  We  reached  Savannah  at  about 
ii  o'clock  next  morning.  Owing  to  a  conflict  of  orders  we 
were  obliged  to  lay  here  in  sight  of  the  steeples  of  the  city 
till  near  1 1  o'clock.  We  reached  Augusta  at  nightfall, 
remaining  on  board  the  cars  till  morning.  We  marched 
out  to  Camp  McKenzie  next  morning,  finding  the  tents 
some  other  regiment  had  left,  already  up  and  waiting  for  us. 

The  days  passed  by  quietly.  We  had  drills  occasion- 
ally and  dress  parades  in  the  evening  and  light  guard  duty. 

In  the  meantime  we  had  opportunities  to  learn  even 
more  of  Georgia  hospitality. 

We  were  examined  for  muster-out  on  the  2ist,  turned 
in  our  guns  and  accoutrements  on  the  28th,  and  at  noon  of 
May  2nd,  received  the  final  papers  that  discharged  us  from 
the  service  of  the  government  and  made  us  private  citizens 
once  again. 

Need  we  add  that  the  home-coming  was  a  joyous 
event?  A  reception  was  tendered  the  members  of  Com- 
pany A  at  the  Armory  Hall  May  6.  Through  the  untiring 
efforts  of  the  many  friends,  led  by  the  Army  and  Navy 
League,  a  magnificent  banquet  was  spread,  at  which  sol- 
diers, both  old  and  young,  were  feasted.  Surely  we  owe 
a  great  debt  of  gratitude  to  those  who,  throughout  the 
twelve  months  of  our  service,  provided  us  many  a  comfort 
and  cheered  us  with  their  sympathy! 

The  following  poem  from  the  pen  of  Mart  H.  Bassett 
was  presented  to  each  member  as  a  souvenir  of  this 
reception: 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  263 

Back  to  our  homes,  back  to  our  hearts, 

Our  boys  are  welcomed  tonight — 
From  tejited  fields  to  civil  marts 

They  come  with  records  bright; 
The  volunteers  of  Company  A 

Are  hailed  with  proud  delight;  v 

We  grasp  your  hands  and  proudly  say: 

You're  welcome  home  tonight. 

Not  yours  to  stand  where  bullets  flew, 

'Mid  mad  alarms  of  strife, 
But  pestilence  and  fever  grew 

Where  brave  you  offered  life, 
That  Cuba  might  uplift  her  eye 

To  Freedom's  holy  light. 
You  willing  were  to  do  and  die, 

You're  welcome  home  tonight. 

We've  missed  you  in  the  year  that's  past, 

The  days  have  sped  but  slow; 
And  now,  we  have  you  home  at  last, 

We'd  have  you  all  to  know 
Arcola  viewed,  with  leaping  joy, 

Our  soldiers'  record  bright; 
And  fondly  tell  each  patriot  boy 

You're  welcome  home  to-night. 


COMPANY  A  ROSTER. 

When  not  otherwise  specified,  mustered  in  May  20, 
1898,  and  mustered  out  May  2,  1899.  Figures  following 
address  indicate  age. 

JOSEPH  P.  BARRICKLAW,  Captain,  Arcola,  111. 
CHARLES  M.  DAVIS,  First  Lieutenant,  Arcola,  111. 
HOVEY  S.  McBRiDE,  Second  Lieutenant,  Arcola,  111. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  265 

SERGEANTS. 

Waldo,  HazenJ.,  Mattoon,  111..  Hotel. 

Bouck,  Wm.  E.,  Arcola,  111.,  Farmer. 

Gere,  Ross  E.,  Arcola,  111.,  22,  Farmer. 

Barricklaw,  Samuel  E. ,  Arcola,  111.,  Farmer. 

Clement,  Charles  W.,  Oakland,  111.,  Farmer;  made  Cor- 
poral June  24,  1898;  promoted  to  Sergeant  Nov. 
19,  1898. 

Munsen,  Fred  F.,  Arcola,  111.,  Clerk;  made  Corporal  June 
24,  1898;  promoted  to  Sergeant  Mch.  19,  1899. 

CORPORALS. 

Thomas,  Alfred  M.,  Arcola,  111.,  22,  Tailor;  made  Corporal 

Aug.    30,  1898. 
Sitz,  August  G.,  Arcola,  111.,  Farmer;  made  Corporal  Aug. 

15,  1898. 
Walz,    Charles   A.,  Carnie,  111.;  made  Corporal  June  24, 

1898. 
dayman,    Earl,  Arcola,    111.,  Clerk;  made   Corporal  June 

24,  1898. 

Smith,  Henry  W.,    Arcola,   111.,  24,   Teacher;  made   Cor- 
poral June  24,  1898. 
Watson,    John   H.,  Chesterville,    111.,    24,    Farmer;    made 

Corporal  Oct.  20,  1898. 
Timm,    William,    Tuscola,    111. ;  made  Corporal   Oct.  20, 

1898. 
Cross,   William    A.,  Tuscola,    111.;  mustered    in    June   25, 

1898;   made  Corporal  Oct.  20,  1898. 
Holler,  Robert  L.,  Lovington,  111.;  mustered  in  June   20, 

1898;  made  Corporal  Feb  i,  1899. 
Butler,    Austin,    Hindsboro,    111. ;  made  Corporal    Feb.    i , 

1899. 


t 

266  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Nelson,  Otis  M.,  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  Miner;  mustered  in  June 
20,  1898;  made  Corporal  Feb.  i,  1899. 

Fletcher,  Montelle,  Tuscola,  111.;  made  Corporal  Mch.  19, 
1899- 

ARTIFICER. 

Scott,  John,  Arcola,  111.,  27,  Farmer;  made  Artificer  Feb. 
i,  1899. 

WAGONER. 

Hall,  Lee,  Arcola,  111.,  30,  Farmer. 

COOK. 

Bates,  William  S.,  Hindsboro,  111.,  26,  Farmer;  made  Com- 
pany Cook  Mch.  24,  1899. 

MUSICIANS. 

Skinner,  Elgie  R. ,  Arcola,  111.,  20,  Student. 
Spellman,  James,  Arcola,   111.,    14,  Painter. 

PRIVATES. 

Armstrong,  Samuel  G. ,  Tuscola,   111.,  32,  Farmer. 

Bales,  Stewart  N.,  18,  Tuscola,  111.,  Stonecutter. 

Barnett,  Mosie,  23,  Arcola,  111.,  Laborer. 

Boone,  Winfield  S.,  18,  Arcola,  111.,  Student. 

Branson,  John,  32,  Chesterville,  111.,  Farmer. 

Brown,  Albert,  Lovington,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 

Bird,  Harvey  D.,  22,  Tuscola,  111.,  Carpenter. 

Chester,  Earnest  K.,  24,  Oakland,  111.,  Laborer. 

Conley,  Guy,  Sailors  Springs,   111. ;   mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 

Coon,  Ollie  P.,  24,  Hindsboro,  111.,  Painter. 
Cox,  John  C.,  Oakland,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 
Craft,  Walter  I.,  25,  Arcola,   111.,  Laborer. 
Ehlenbach,  Hans  C. ,  Arcola,  111. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  267 

Fulton,  John  C.,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 
Gasman,  Thomas,  Jr.,  Tuscola,   111.;  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 

Gray,  Fred  M. ,  Lovington,  111. ;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 
Grigsby,  Lon,  Sullivan,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 
Hartford,  William  R.,  23,  Arcola,  111.,  Farmer. 
Hendricks,  Harry  M.,  23,  Oakland,  111.,  Laborer. 
Howard,  John  W.,  Arcola,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 
Kennedy,  John,  Findlay,  Ohio;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 
Kurtz,  Edwin  A.,  19,  Oakland,  111.,  Laborer. 
Land,  Edward  J.,  Tuscola,  111. ;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 
Lentz,  John  N.,  21,  Mt.  Vernon,  111.,  Farmer. 
Logan,  Stephen,  Arcola,  111. 

Ludolph,  John  H.,  Arcola,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 
McCallister,  Thomas,  Raridan,  111. 
McCowen,    George,   Sullivan,    111. ;   mustered   in  June  20, 

1898. 

Maris,  George  A.,  32,  Tuscola,  111.,  Engineer. 
Matthews,  Riley  B.,  36,  Arcola,  111.,  Brakeman. 
Miller,  George  W.,  Atwood,  111. 
Northway,  John,  26,  Toledo,  111.,  Farmer. 
Pfeifer,  Lawrence  L.,  24,  Arcola,  111.,  Farmer. 
Pigg,  Leonard,  Kemp,  111. 

Potter,  Palo  L. ,  Lovington,  111. ;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 
Price,  Thomas,  30,  Arcola,   111.,  Farmer. 
Rhodes,  James  D.,  Plymouth,  Ind. 
Sandy,  Charles  F. ,  19,  Sullivan,  111.,  Student. 
Short,  Harvey  A.,  26,  Hindsboro,  111.,  Farmer. 
Short,  Zeddie  L,  Hindsboro,  111. 
Sich,  Henry,  27,  Garrett,  111.,  Farmer. 
Sipes,  Fred,  21,  Arcola,  111.,  Plasterer. 
Smith,  Samuel  R.,  25,  Arcola,  111.,  Farmer. 
Southard,  John  M.,  34,  Arthur,  111.,  Laborer. 


268  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Strain,  John  A.,  Lovington,  111. ;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898. 
Swisher,  Earnest  O.,   Sullivan,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 

Thein,  John  W.  E.,  35,  Arcola,  111.,  Farmer. 
Thompson,  Alecuph  R.,  21,  Colony,  Kans. ,  Farmer. 
Thompson,  Eugene,  Hawesville,  Ky. ;  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 

Watts,  William  W.,  25,  Hindsboro,  111.,  Farmer. 
Wingate,  Ernest  G.,  Lovington,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 

Wirshing,  Edward  A.,  26,  Tuscola,   111.,   Wood  Engraver. 
Wolf,  Albert  J.,  23,  Hindsboro,  111.,  Farmer. 
Wood,  Nicholas  B.,  Lovington,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20, 

1898. 

Woodrow,  George  N.,  20,  Tamaroa,  111.,  Farmer. 
Wright,   Chauncey  S.,    Lovington,  111.;  mustered  in  June 

20,    1898. 

RESIGNATIONS. 

Moore,  Rice  J.,  Second  Lieutenant,  28,  Arcola,  111., 
Farmer;  resigned  November  9,  1898. 

DISCHARGED    FOR     DISABILITY. 

Matthias,  Charles  W.,  August  26,  1898. 

Graham,  Ernest,  24,  Arcola,  111.,  Farmer;  discharged 
July  27,  1898. 

Tick,  Julius,  21,  Lafayette,  Ind. ,  Laborer;  discharged 
September  12,  1898. 

Allen,  Mark,  30,  Oakland,  111.,  Laborer;  discharged  Sep- 
tember 17,  1898. 

Bonkofski,  Alex.,  34,  Arcola,  111.,  Painter;  discharged 
September  17,  1898. 

McCarty,  Thomas  F. ,  28,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  Clerk; 
discharged  December  29,  1898. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  269 

DISCHARGED    BY    ORDER. 

Funston,  Rolley  E.,  Lovington,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20, 
1898;  discharged  November  2,  1898. 

Million,  Andy,  Lovington,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898; 
discharged  December  3,  1898. 

Cross,  Harry  E.,  Tuscola,  111.;  discharged  December  15, 
1898. 

Moorehead,  Jason  B. ,  31,  Tuscola,  111.,  Carpenter;  dis- 
charged January  10,  1899. 

Parker,  Chauncey  J.,  Casey,  111.;  discharged  Jan.  n,  1899. 

Little,  Everette  A.,  21,  Bookkeeper;  appointed  Corporal 
June  24,  1898;  discharged  Jan.  17,  1899. 

Carroll,  Thomas,  21,  Arcola,  111.,  Farmer;  discharged  Jan. 
23,  1899. 

Davis,  Albert  D.,  Arcolo,  111.,  19,  Student;  discharged 
Feb.  9,  1899. 

Jones,  Christopher  L. ,  Clairmont,  111.,  22,  Farmer;  dis- 
charged Feb.  1 6,  1899. 

Wilson,  William  D.,  Tuscola,  111.,  42,  Carpenter;  mus- 
tered in  as  Corporal,  discharged  June  3,  1898. 

Devine,  Charles  F.,  Rantoon,  111.,  22,  Cigarmaker;  dis- 
honorably discharged  July  24,  1898. 

Bland,  Allen  L. ,  Oakland,  111.,  31,  Plasterer;  discharged 
without  honor  or  travel  pay,  April  10,  1899. 

Harris,  Claud  S.,  Sullivan,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20,  1898, 
discharged  Feb.  24,  1899. 

Roges,  Clay  M.,  Baggstown,  lad.,  27,  Farmer;  discharged 
Feb.  1 8,  1899. 

TRANSFERS. 

Wilkins,  John  P.,  Arcola,  111.,  Farmer; transferred  June  12,. 
1898,  to  the  U.  S.  Hospital  Corps. 


2/O  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Gasmann,  Hans,  Tuscola,  111.,  Baker;  transferred  June  J2, 

1898,  to  U.  S.  Hospital  Corps. 
Frey,  Leo  J.,   Springfield,  111.;  transferred  to   Regimental 

Band  Dec.   24,    1898. 
Woodman,   Joy,   Virden,    111. ;   transferred  to  Regimental 

Band  Dec.   24,  1898. 

DEATHS. 

Clore,  Allen  F.,  Lovington,  111.;  mustered  in  June  20, 
1898,  died  Sept.  15,  1898,  at  Lovington,  111. 

Matters,  Sid  H.,  Arcola,  111.,  Clerk;  died  Oct.  6,  1898  at 
Jacksonville,  Fla. 

Robertson,  James  W.,  Waterman,  Ind. ;  died  Oct.  14, 
1898  at  Jacksonville,  Fla. 

DESERTED. 

Bird,  Harvey  D.,  Tuscola,  111.,  22,  Carpenter;  deserted 
July  15,  1898,  returned  to  duty  without  sentence. 


COMPANY  E. 


ALVIN  C.   VORIS. 

Lieutenant  Alvin  C.  Voris  was  born  at  Neoga,  Illinois, 
January  5,  1876,  where  he  still  resides  and  where  in  the 
public  schools  he  secured  his  early  or  preparatory  educa- 
tion. In  the  fall  of  1892,  he  entered  the  University  of 
Illinois  at  Champaign,  Illinois,  where  he  spent  two  years, 
during  which  time,  in  connection  with  his  regular  Uni- 
versity studies,  he  also  received  something  of  a  military 
education. 

In  the  fall  of  1894,  he  entered  the  North  Western  Law 
School,  and  in  the  following  fall,  that  of  the  Chicago  Col- 
lege of  Law,  from  which  he  graduated  with  the  class  of 
1896.  Entered  upon  the  practice  of  law  in  Beaumont, 
Texas,  during  the  following  year,  and  while  there  was  a 
member  of  the  fifth  regiment  of  Texas  Guards.  The  late 
war,  or  Spanish-American  war,  breaking  out  while  he  was 
spending  some  time  at  his  father's  home  in.  Neoga,  he 
joined  Company  E,  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guards,  and 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  Volunteer  service  as 
a  private,  on  the  2oth  day  of  May,  1898.  On  July  I,  of 
the  same  year  he  was  appointed  corporal  of  Company  E, 
and  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant  of  same  Decem- 
ber 8,  1898,  filling  this  position  until  the  Company  was 
mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service.  From  January 
2Oth  to  April  13,  1899,  he  filled  the  position  of  judge  ad- 
vocate of  a  general  court  martial. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  273 

HISTORY  OF  COMPANY  E. 

Company  E,  of  Mattoon,  Illinois,  was  organized  in  that 
city  on  the  I2th  day  of  March,  1891,  and  became  a  part  of 
the  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guard.  Its  first  commander 
was  Emory  Andrews,  with  Charles  E.  Dole,  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  Dr.  C.  E.  Mack,  second  lieutenant. 

During  the  year  1892  Captain  Andrews  resigned  his 
command,  and  Lieutenant  Dole  was  commissioned  to  take 
the  place  thus  vacated.  This  occasioned  a  vacancy  in  the 
first  lieutenancy,  which  was  filled  by  the  commissioning  of 
Charles  Rudy.  Lieutenant  Swan  tendered  his  resignation 
some  months  later,  and  Frank  Sencebaugh  was  regularly 
put  in  his  place.  Later  on  Captain  Dole  laid  aside  his 
rank  by  resignation,  and  Lieutenant  Rudy  was  duly  quali- 
fied to  assume  the  duties  thus  laid  aside.  Frank  E.  Norvell 
was  thereupon  elected  to  take  the  first  lieutenancy,  and  in 
due  time  commissioned  as  such.  Next  in  the  order  of 
changes  came  the  resignation  of  Second  Lieutenant  Sence- 
baugh, which  vacancy  was  filled  by  the  election  and  com- 
missioning of  Samuel  E.  Owen  to  that  rank.  In  1896 
Lieutenant  Owen  made  g  '.  he  record  of  the  company  by 
tendering  his  resignation,  .  ch  opened  the  way  for  the 
election  of  Richard  L.  Wright,  whose  commission  bears  the 
date  of  July  14,  1896,  only  to  hold  the  office  until  Novem- 
ber, 1897,  when  he  in  turn  duly  tendered  his  resignation, 
and  later  took  his  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  retired.  This 
checkered  history  began  to  take  on  a  new  phase  of  changes, 
when,  by  order  from  higher  authority,  it  was  recruited  up 
to  the  strength  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  enlisted  men. 

Following  hard  upon  the  heels  of  this  came  the  anx- 
iously anticipated  order  of  April  26,  1898,  at  9  A.  M.,  call- 
ing the  company  to  join  the  regiment  at  Springfield,  Illinois; 
and  accordingly  on  the  2/th,  at  5:10  A.  M.,  the  company 

18 


274  HISTORY    OF    THE 

took  leave  of  their  friends  and  embarked  for  the  state 
capital,  where  they  arrived  at  11:30  A.  M.,  of  the  same 
day,  and  joined  the  other  companies  of  the  regiment  in  the 
barns  on  the  fair  grounds. 

On  the  loth  of  May,  while  in  Camp  Tanner  at  Spring- 
field, the  company  elected  Second  Lieutenant  Krick  to  the 
position  from  which  Lieutenant  Wright  resigned,  thus  rais- 
ing him  one  step  in  the  line  of  promotion.  A  few  days 
later  the  company  was  marched  into  the  presence  of  the 
United  States  examining  board  of  physicians  in  the  State 
House  and  went  through  a  careful  physical  examination, 
and  out  of  the  number,  about  no,  who  reported  for  this 
test  of  fitness  for  further  duties,  only  eight  failed  to  receive 
the  approval  of  the  examiners.  But  as  the  company  was 
not  allowed  to  retain  as  its  full  strength  more  than  84 
enlisted  men  and  their  officers,  the  number  of  qualified 
men  had  to  be  reduced  by  subtracting  28  from  their 
number. 

With  these  eighty-four  as  its  composite,  the  company 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on  the  2Oth  of 
May,  1898,  and  six  days  later  boarded  a  train  for  the  sunny 
South,  thus  ending  our  first  brief  period  of  camp  life  and 
drill.  On  the  2pth  we  landed  at  Jacksonville,  Florida,  and 
were  marched  to  our  quarters  in  Camp  Cuba  Libre,  in  the 
suburb  Springfield,  where  we  found  anything  but  an  inviting 
spot  to  an  Illinoisan,  so  thoroughly  unaccustomed  to  such 
stretches  of  burning  sand  as  were  presented  to  our  view  in 
this  place. 

Here  we,  like  obedient  sons  of  our  great  father,  Uncle 
Sam,  entered  upon  a  career  of  grubbing,  ditching,  filling  of 
swamps,  building  of  fountains,  etc.,  etc.,  while  the  busi- 
ness of  drilling  and  marching  was  unremittingly  kept  up. 

During  our  stay  in  this  camp  the  companies  of  the 
regiment  were  ordered  to  be  recruited  up  to  the  quota  of 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  275 

one  hundred  and  six  men  and  three  officers,  but  by  some 
mis-cue  the  specific  order  in  reference  to  this  company,  as 
perhaps  some  others  also,  only  called  for  one  hundred  and 
three  enlisted  men  and  three  officers. 

With  this  enlargement  of  the  company,  we  later  accom- 
panied the  regiment,  to  another  part  of  Camp  Cuba  Libre, 
which  we  called  Camp  Panama,  having  done  a  good  job  of 
clearing  for  some  land  speculators  at  the  former  place,  and 
which  it  seemed  was  to  be  continued  in  this  new  camp. 

But  whatever  the  plans  of  our  "superiors"  were  in 
this  respect,  the  rapid  rise  and  spread  of  typhoid  fever  and 
other  diseases  held  us  in  check  frojn  anything  quite  so  ex- 
tensive as  in  the  former  camp. 

This  company  had  its  full  share  of  this  scourge,  hav- 
ing at  times  thirty-five  on  the  sick  roll,  not  including  many 
who  were  "ailing"  sufficiently  to  scarcely  be  able  to  attend 
to  the  duties  devolving  upon  them.  Yet  the  prevalence  of 
disease  made  it  necessary  to  "hold  down"  the  sick  roll  to 
a  minimum,  at  least  for  appearance. 

After  a  time  of  this  new  experience  in  army  life  it  was 
thought  best  to  remove  the  regiment  from  these  land  im- 
provement camps,  and  accordingly  we  were  transferred  to 
the  city  of  Jacksonville,  where  we  entered  upon  the  novel 
duties  of  provost  guard,  being  located  at  Major  Harrison's 
headquarters. 

After  a  brief  period  of  service  here,  in  which  the  boys 
rapidly  recuperated  their  strength,  we  were  removed  to 
Savannah,  Georgia,  where  we  continued  on  provost  duty, 
being  located  at  the  suburb  of  the  city  called  Colinsville, 
and  were  assigned  the  unpleasant  task  of  guarding  the  street 
cars.  And  while  this  furnished  us  with  plenty  of  car  riding 
and  pleasant  diversions,  it  brought  also  enough  of  the  oppo- 
site to  beat  back  any  monotony  that  might  attempt  to  creep 
in,  for  it  was  not  uncommon  that  we  had  to  haul  in  the 


2/6  HISTORY    OF    THE 

"drunks,"  of  course  from  other  regiments  encamped  with- 
out the  city,  and  confine  them  in  the  "  bull  pen,"  where  we 
treated  them  to  a  shower  bath  from  the  hose,  a  thing  in 
many  cases  very  essential  to  the  health  of  the  victim,  but 
uncomfortable  to  the  stray  grayback  that  might  chance  to 
have  missed  his  lair  in  the  seams  of  clothing  before  the 
ordeal  was  fully  on. 

While  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  Lieut.  Frank  E.  Norvell 
resigned,  September,  1898,  opening  the  way  for  the  promo- 
tion of  Second  Lieutenant  Krick  to  his  place,  and  the  com- 
missioning of  corporal,  Alvin  C.  Voris,  to  the  rank  of  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  being  commissioned  to  that  rank  Decem- 
ber, 1898. 

Our  last  days  at  Savannah,  which  ended  January  3, 
were  spent  in  Camp  Onward,  and  on  the  practice  march 
and  daily  drill,  duties  that  had  not  troubled  us  while  on 
provost  duty,  and  which  had  left  us  somewhat  rusty  as  to 
military  tactics. 

Sunday,  January  i,  1899,  will  long  be  remembered  as 
the  day  so  long  looked  for,  the  day  of  good  tidings,  tidings 
that  brought  a  shout  of  gladness  which  echoed  out  upon 
the  still  chill  air  of  the  evening.  It  was  the  news  that  we 
had  almost  despaired  of  hearing, — orders  to  move  to  Cuba. 
Accordingly  on  the  3d  of  this  initial  month,  with  the  rest 
of  our  regiment  and  the  Ninth  Illinois  Volunteers,  we 
started  on  our  first  ocean  voyage,  which  permitted  some  of 
us  to  realize  what  it  is  to  have  one's  stomach  try  to  find 
larger  space  by  getting  outside  of  him,  nevertheless  we  suc- 
ceeded in  retaining  possession  of  all  except  its  contents. 
Our  experiences  being  about  that  of  our  comrades  in  the 
regiment  we  pass  over  the  little  events  leading  up  to  our 
sitting  up  house  or  tent  keeping  in  Camp  Columbia  near 
the  railroad  station  Buena  Vista. 

From  this  beautiful  camp,  after  thirteen  days' rest  and 


FOURTH   ILLINOIS.  2/7 

camp  duties,  the  third  battalion,  of  which  Company  E  was 
a  factor,  started  on  an  eight-days' practice  march  to  the  inte- 
rior of  the  island,  passing  over  one  of  the  beautiful  military 
roads  which  was  built  in  the  days  of  Spain's  glory,  and  on 
which  doubtless  no  American  soldier  had  ever  before  set 
foot.  Reaching  the  inland  city  of  Guines,  which  is  the 
terminus  of  this  excellent  road,  we  went  into  camp  and 
during  the  days  of  our  tarrying  visited  the  places  of  inter- 
est and  otherwise,  learning  the  customs  and  habits  of  this 
to  us  strange  people  and  purchasing  many  articles  associ- 
ated with  the  Spanish-Cuban  war,  to  bear  home  as  trophies 
or  souvenirs  of  this  our  first  outing  in  this  delightful  island. 
After  more  than  two  days  rest  we  retraced  our  steps, 
reach  Camp  Columbia  on  Sunday  the  29th,  about  the 
same  hour  of  our  departure,  9  A.  M. 

On  the  26th  of  February  our  company  was  detached 
from  the  regiment  and  placed  on  provost  duty  in  the  towns 
of  Marianao  and  Quemados,  at  provost  headquarters,  where 
we  spent  forty-six  days,  returning  to  Camp  Columbia  on 
the  1 2th  of  April  to  find  the  camp  broken  up  and  all  in 
readiness  to  leave  for  our  own  beloved  land.  Joining  the 
rest  of  our  battalion,  we  marched  to  the  Buena  Vista  rail- 
road station  and  took  the  train  for  Havana,  where,  after  a 
march  across  its  entire  length,  through  the  hot  sun  and 
narrow  paved  streets,  we  called  a  halt  at  San  Jose  docks, 
from  which  we  were  conveyed  by  United  States  tugs  and 
lighters  to  the  "scrubby"  little  side-wheeler  Whitney,  of 
the  Plant  system,  and  about  6  P.  M.  steamed  out  of  the 
beautiful  and  famous  Havana  harbor  for  the  home  land. 
Reaching  Egmont  Key,  some  twenty-five  miles  out 
Tampa  Bay  from  that  city,  we  entered  upon  a  three  days 
quarantine,  being  confined  in  a  small  barbed  wire  en- 
closure of  perhaps  less  than  one  acre.  We  put  it  tamely 
when  we  say  we  were  heartily  glad  to  see  the  dawn  of  the 


2/8  HISTORY    OF    THE 

day  in  which  we  were  to  pass  out  from  these  narrow  quar- 
ters and  embark  on  the  little  steamer  Margaret  for  Port 
Tampa.  Here  we  were  soon  on  board  a  well-equipped 
train  of  the  Plant  system  and  moving  with  a  true  American 
gait  for  our  new  and  final  camp,  McKenzie,  at  Augusta, 
Ga.,  where  we  met  a  cheery  welcome  from  the  First  and 
Second  battalions,  and  with  them  quietly  awaited  the  dawn 
of  the  second  day  of  May,  when  Uncle  Sam  would  give  us 
our  clearance  papers,  and  with  a  few  greenback  thank-you's, 
kindly  permit  us  to  return  to  our  homes  and  peaceful  oc- 
cupations. 

This  company,  although  it  had  its  full  share  of  sick- 
ness during  its  career  as  United  States  Volunteers,  yet  it 
was  the  only  one  in  the  Fourth  Illinois  that  did  not  lose  a 
man  by  death. 

ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  E. 

RUDY,  CHARLES  E. ,  37,  Captain,  Mattoon,  111.,  Merchant. 

NORVELL,  F.  E. ,  36,  First  Lieutenant,  Mattoon,  111.,  Paper- 
hanger. 

KRICK,  WM.  A.,  24,  Second  Lieutenant,  Mattoon,  111., 
Clerk. 

SERGEANTS. 

Wright,  R.  L.,  25,  Mattoon,  111.,  Clerk. 
Garrett,  Brown  J.,  27,  Mattoon,  111.,  Clerk. 
Woods,  Martin  D.,  27,  Mattoon,  111.,  Brick-mason. 
Beem,  Arthur  M.,  23,  Mattoon,  111.,  Fireman. 
Jones,  Oliver  O.,  16,  Mattoon,  III.,  Student. 
Smithley,  Wm.  A.,  32,  Mattoon,  111.,  Brakeman. 

CORPORALS. 

Cox,  H.  M.,  24,  Mattoon,  111.,  Salesman. 
Springer,  Wm.  H.,  21,  Mattoon,  111.,  Laborer. 


28O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Henneke,  Edwin  C.,  23,  Mattoon,  111.,  Farmer. 

Tracy,  Joseph,  26,  Mattoon,  111.,  Farmer. 

Ewing,  Charles  C.,  21,  Neoga,  111.,  Clerk. 

Glascock,  Jasper,  43,  Mattoon,  111.,  Laborer;  discharged 
October  19,  1898. 

Voris,  Alvin  C.,  22,  Neoga,  111.,  Lawyer;  promoted  to  cor- 
poral July  i,  1898,  Second  Lieutenant  December 
22,  1898. 

McFadden,  John  A.,  40,  Mattoon,  111.,  Clerk;  made  corpo- 
ral July  i,  1898. 

Matthews,  Fred  W. ,  18,  Carlinville,  111.,  Student;  pro- 
moted corporal  July  i,  1898,  discharged  December 
3,  1898. 

Irving,  Wm.,  22,  Humbolt,  111.,  Farmer;  promoted  corpo- 
ral July  i,  1898. 

Sullivan,  Wm.  W. ,  22,  Mattoon,  111.,  Farmer;  made  cor- 
poral July  i,  1898. 

Roberts,  Carlton  E.,  25,  St  Louis,  Mo.,  Electrician;  made 
corporal  July  i,  1898. 

MUSICIAN. 

Baldwin,  Harry  O.,  23,  Mattoon,  111.,  Clerk;  mustered  in 
as  bugler. 

ARTIFICER. 

Keller,  Edward  M.,  29,  Neoga,  111.,  Carpenter;  appointed 
artificer  July  i,  1898. 

WAGONER. 

Workman,  John  F. ,  29,  Windsor,  111.,  Butcher;  mustered 
in  as  wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 

Albeck,  Fred  F.,  18,  Mattoon,  111.,  Printer. 
Aye,  Charles,  21,  Mattoon,  111.,   Farmer;  appointed  corpo- 
ral December  23,    1898. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  28 1 

Alliman,  Clarence,  21,  Mattoon,  111.,  Harness-maker. 
Athey,  John,  24,  Mattoon,  111.,  Laborer;  mustered  in  June 

17,  1898. 
Auld,   Frank  P.,    22,   Shelbyville,   111.,   Teacher;  mustered 

in  June  17,  1898. 
Bassett,  Albert  A.,  18,  Neoga,  111.,  Laborer;  transfered  to 

band  November  20,  1898. 

Burnett,  George  \V.,  22,  Mattoon,  111.,  Fireman. 
Baldwin,  W.  L. ,  32,  Mattoon,  111.,  Clerk. 
Kenney,    Wm.    D. ,    21,    Mattoon,  111.,  Fireman;  mustered 

in  June  17,  1898. 

Lozier,  Walter  W. ,  28,  Humbolt,  111.,   Farmer. 
Lacy,  Edwin  M.,  24,  Neoga,  111.,    Lineman;  transfered  to 

Signal  Corps. 

Lash,  George  G. ,  27,  Windsor,  111.,  Laborer. 
Lichtenwalter,  Joseph,  22,  Shelbyville,  111.,  Laborer. 
Michales,  John  W.,  42,  Mattoon,  111.,  Carpenter;  mustered 

in  June  17,  1898. 

Maxedon,  Charles  E.,  25,  Sullivan,  111.,  Coal-miner. 
Melick,  Edwin,  30,  Humboldt,  111.,  Farmer. 
Melick,  Amos  W.,  26,  Humboldt,  111.,  Farmer. 
Moris,    Frank   H.,    20,    Lafayette,    Ind.,   Blacksmith;  pro- 
moted corporal  December  23,  1898. 
Montgomery,  Truman,  20,  Windsor,  111.,  Laborer. 
Moxley,  Aldin  H.,  21,  Neoga,  111.,  Laborer. 
Maxey,  Theodore,  30,  Attwood,  111.,  Farmer. 
Mansur,  George,  29,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Clerk. 
Mercer,  Walter  T.,  Shelbyville,  111.,  Farmer. 
Needham,  Leslie    A.,   21,    Neoga,    111.,   Farmer;   mustered 

in  June  17,  1898. 
Newman,    James    H.,    21,    Mattoon,     111.,     Laundryman, 

mustered  in  June  17,  1898. 
Norwood,  Harry  L.,  22,    Boston,    Mass.,   Baker;  mustered 

in  June  28,  1898,  deserted  September  20,  1898. 


282  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Osborn,  Leonard  A.,  25,  Neoga,  111.,  Student. 

Parker,  Wm.  M.,  24,  Charleston,  111.,  Merchant;  mustered 
in  June  17,  1898. 

Patheal,  Wm.  H.,  18,  Mattoon,  111.,  Copper-smith;  mus- 
tered in  June  17,  1898. 

Ross,  James  T. ,  24,  Mattoon,  111.,  Coachman. 

Robinson,  George  W.,  24,  Mattoon,  111.,   Plasterer. 

Robinson,  Robert,  19,  Mattoon,  111.,  Teamster;  mustered 
in  June  17,  1898. 

Richmond,  Charles  F.,  29,  Mattoon,  111.,  Clerk;  mustered 
in  June  28,  1898. 

Steers,  Albert,  38,  Mattoon,  111.,  Printer;  mustered  in  June 
17,  1898. 

Stairwalt,  F.  B.,  21,  Shelby ville,  111.,  Student;  mustered 
in  June  17,  1898. 

Shutts,  Charles  H.,  21,  Mattoon,  111.,  Railroad  call  boy; 
mustered  in  June  17,  1898. 

Spohn,  Harry  C.,  21,  Mattoon,  111.,  Book-keeper;  mus- 
tered in  June  17,  1898. 

Smith,  Oliver,  20,  Jonesville,  Ind.,  Laborer;  appointed 
corporal  December  23,  1898. 

Shinn,  Oliver  M.,  20,  Mattoon,  111.,  Clerk. 

Beck,  Curtis,  21,  Neoga,   111.,  Farmer. 

Briggs,  William  B.,  38,  Mattoon,  111.,  Blacksmith. 

Boren,  Guy  H.,  22,  Milton,   111.,  Undertaker. 

Bowen,  Clyde  L. ,  21,  Windsor,  111.,  Laborer. 

Bartles,  Thomas  J.,  26,  Mattoon,  111.,  Laborer. 

Bayne,  Frank,  20,  Neoga,  111.,  Laborer. 

Bolan,  William  S.,  27,  Gays,  111.,  Carpenter;  mustered  in 
June  17,  1898. 

Buchanan,  William  D.,  28,  Neoga,  111.,  Fireman;  mustered 
in  June  17,  1898. 

Bond,  William  E. ,  42,  Mattoon,  111.,  Cooper;  mustered  in 
June  17,  1898. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  28$ 

Coons,  Leon  E.,  19,  Mattoon,  111.,  Switchman. 

Cooper,  Clarence  E.,  30,  Mattoon,  111.,  Engineer;  mustered 
in  June  17,  1898. 

Cramer,  Harry  W.,  20,  Shelbyville,  111.,  Carpenter;  mus- 
tered in  June  17,  1898. 

Cullum,  Hubert  J.,  21,  Neoga,  111.,  Tinner;  discharged 
Dec.  19,  1898,  disability. 

Cox,  Charles,   31,  Kinmundy,  111.,  Brakeman. 

Cunningham,  William  F.,  24,  Mattoon,  111.,  Farmer. 

Davidson,  William  W.,  21,  Neoga,  111.,  Laborer. 

DeGarmo,  Francis  M.,  27,  Mattoon,   111.,  Hostler. 

Everhart,  Frank  D.,  21,  Carlinville,  111.,  Laborer. 

Eberhart,  Frederick,   22,  Neoga,  111.,  Laborer. 

Elliott,  John  E. ,  26,  Mattoon,  111.,  Jeweler;  mustered  in 
June  17,  1898. 

Findley,  Virgil  W. ,  23,  Mattoon,  111.,  Mailcarrier;  discharged 
March  18,  1899,  disability. 

Fancher,  George  A.,  21,  Neoga,  111.,  Laborer;  discharged 
March  18,  1899,  disability. 

Fosnock,  Joseph  W.,  36,  Mattoon,  111.,  Laborer;  dis- 
charged. 

Fulfer,  Jacob  A.,  30,  Mattoon,  111.,  Laborer. 

Gibson,  Albert,  26,  Oleny,   111.,  Laborer. 

Good,  Charles  W. ,  22,  Neoga,  111.,  Teacher;  discharged 
March  6,  1899. 

Greenawalt,  Allen  L. ,  21,  Neoga,  111.,  Laborer. 

Harris,  Everet  B.,  21,  Shelbyville,  111.,  Laborer. 

Hall,  Hiram  V.,  20,  Mattoon,    111.,  Laborer. 

Husband,  Thomas  E.,  19,  Neoga,  111.,  Laborer;  mustered 
in  June  17,  1898. 

Howk,  George  F. ,  21,  Neoga,  111.,  Printer. 

Jones,  Joseph  B*.,  35,  Mattoon,  111.,  Cabinetmaker;  mus- 
tered in  June  17,  1898. 


284  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Keller,    Wade,    21,    Mattoon,    111.,  Machinist;  mustered  in 

June  17,  1898. 
Keller,  Walter  C.,  Neoga,  111.,  Laborer,  mustered  in  June 

17,  1898. 

Strawn,  Joseph,  24,  Mattoon,  111.,  Farmer. 
Sackville,  Louis  T.,  21,  Mattoon,  111.,  Farmer. 
Seaman,  Thomas  M.,  31,  Toledo,  111.,  Farmer. 
Summerlin,  Iran,  39,  Mattoon,  111.,  Printer. 
Sparks,  George  S.,  33,  Hillsboro,  Ohio,  Laborer. 
Tarpley,  Joseph  P. ,  24,  Oleny,  111. ,  Laborer. 
Tucker,  William  I.,  32,  Detroit,   Mich.,  Clerk;  discharged 

Dec.  25,  1898,  disability. 
Volaw,  Alvin  C. ,  21,  Neoga,  111.,  Farmer. 
Welsh,  Martin,  24,  Mattoon,  111.,  Clerk. 
Elyu,  Regan,  20,  Shelby ville,  111.,  Laborer;  transferred  to 

Hospital  Corps. 
Cullum,  A.  L.,  25,  Neoga,  111.,  Pharmacist;  transferred  to 

Hospital  Corps. 
Dibble,  Allen  P.,  Mattoon,  111. 

In  all  cases  not  otherwise  mentioned,  mustered  in 
May  20,  1898,  and  mustered  out  on  May  2,  1899,  at  Au- 
gusta, Georgia. 


THE  REGIMENT. 


While  the  history  of  this  regiment,  like  that  of  most  of 
of  its  companions,  dates  back  in  its  organization  several 
years  earlier  than  its  enrollment  as  a  part  of  the  United 
States  forces,  which  were  called  out  on  account  of  the  in- 
sulting and  encroaching  attitude  of  our  sister  nation,  Spain; 
yet  we  do  not  propose  to  enter  into  that  part  of  its  career, 
only  as  it  incidently  relates  to  that  of  its  history  as  a  United 
States  Volunteer  regiment. 

We  also  deem  it  wise,  as  far  as  clearness  will  admit, 
to  avoid  any  repetition  of  that  which  pertains  wholly,  or  in 
part,  to  any  particular  company,  yet  not  forgetting  the  very 
potent  fact  that  these  lesser  organizations  are  a  part  of  and 
so  closely  related  to  the  regiment,  as  to  make  their  every 
act  a  part  of  its  history,  however  remote  the  connection 
may  seem. 

The  composite  of  this  regiment  is  of  the  young  blood 
and  sturdy  manhood  of  central  Illinois,  coming  from  the 
fields  of  her  thrifty  farmers,  the  shops,  stores  and  offices  of 
her  provident  towns,  with  no  small  sprinkling  from  the  pro- 
fessional ranks. 

The  initial,  therefore,  of  the  present  organization  as  a 
regiment,  was  the  assembling  of  the  several  companies  of 
the  national  guards  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  in  answer  to  an 
order  from  Gov.  John  R.  Tanner,  issued  on  the  2 5th  of 
April,  1898,  which  assembling  was  accomplished  within 
the  brief  space  of  forty-eight  hours.  Headquarters  were 
established  in  one  of  the  barns  of  the  fair  grounds,  with 
Col.  John  B.  Washburn  in  command,  while  the  companies 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  287 

were  located  in  other  barns  in  close  proximity  thereto. 
Scarcely  had  the  camp  been  established,  when  it  became 
very  apparent  that  there  was  friction  somewhere  near  the 
center  of  power,  and  in  a  few  days,  Colonel  Washburn 
tendered  his  resignation  (a  variety  of  reason  therefor  gain- 
ing publicity),  which  was  promptly  accepted  by  the  gov- 
ernor, and  on  the  ipth  day  of  May,  1898,  Casimir  Andel, 
of  Belleville,  was  commissioned  by  the  governor  to  take  the 
place  thus  vacated.  But  a  few  days  elapsed  before  Colonel 
Andel  reported  and  at  once  assumed  the  duties  made  in- 
cumbent upon  him  in  his  new  relation  to  the  regiment. 

Time  hung  heavily  on  our  hands  during  the  weeks  that 
intervened  before  the  time  for  our  examination  arrived. 
But  it  came,  freighted  with  many  disappointments  and  sur- 
prises; for  the  big,  muscular  fellow  that  always  had  things 
largely  his  own  way  about  the  village,  could  not  understand 
why  he  was  not  permitted  to  go  farther  than  the  first  physi- 
cian, who  turned  him  back  to  readjust  his  wardrobe, 
leaving  him  in  blissful  ignorance  as  to  a  serious  lack  of  lung 
power.  Not  less  puzzled  was  the  fellow  whose  chest  would 
expand  like  a  poucher  pigeon,  when  he  stood  before  the 
last  examiner,  who  kindly  passed  him  on  to  join  the  civilian 
host  of  his  native  land,  to  learn  later  the  serious  defects  in 
the  great  engine  of  his  physical  being,  which,  so  far  as  he 
knew,  had  never  made  a  mistroke.  But  the  surprise  came 
to  on-looking  comrades  when  the  fellow  with  all  the  brawn 
necessary  to  endure  the  hardships  of  the  farm,  or  tramp  the 
weary  miles  with  a  full  hunter's  equipment  strapped  about 
him,  claimed  he  was  sorely  afflicted  with  about  all  the  ills 
flesh  is  heir  to,  and  moved  away  from  the  examiner  with  a 
slight  hitch  in  his  gait  and  a  solemn  look  on  his  face. 

But  this  part  of  the  programme  was  not  without  its 
touching  scenes — when  those  with  buoyant  hope  and  strong 
desire  to  attend  their  comrades  still  farther  in  the  experi- 


288  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ences  of  the  soldier  were  seen  to  turn  away  and  weep 
because  they  were  rejected. 

All  these  preliminaries  being  disposed  of,  then  came 
the  work  of  uniforming  the  men — a  thing  very  much  needed 
in  many  cases,  as  the  men  had  come  to  camp  poorly  clad, 
anticipating  an  early  issue  from  Uncle  Sam's  store  house, 
which  was  not  fully  realized,  doubtless  owing  to  the  great 
demand  made  upon  the  quartermaster's  department  in  fit- 
ting out  the  vast  number  of  men  that  were  needed  imme- 
diately at  the  front,  with  but  a  very  brief  time  in  which 
to  do  it. 

Added  to  this  shortage  was  that  of  blankets,  a  need 
keenly  felt  at  this  season  of  the  year,  even  though  quar- 
tered in  the  commodious,  well-arranged  barns  on  the  fair 
grounds.  For  even  here  we  had  no  little  experience  in  the 
hardships  that  fall  to  the  soldier's  lot,  growing  out  of  rainy 
weather  and  chilly  atmosphere  that  seemed  to  find  the  very 
marrow  of  our  bones,  giving  the  old-fashioned  ague  shake 
to  our  chins,  while  our  nerves  fairly  crept,  as  if  seeking  a 
secure  retreat  from  this  searching  element  of  the  north  pole. 
But  with  all  this,  our  condition  and  that  of  some  others 
was  far  superior  to  what  some  companies  experienced  who 
were  located  on  low  ground,  which  was  soon  flooded  by  the 
heavy  rains  that  visited  our  state  during  the  month  of  May, 
while  instead  of  barns,  their  shelter  was  the  common  tent. 

But  these  discomforts  of  our  regiment  were  not  per- 
mitted to  continue  long,  for  no  sooner  was  the  fact  known 
to  our  friends  in  their  comfortable  homes,  from  which  we 
had  so  recently  gone  out,  than  thoughtful  loving  hearts  be- 
gan to  plan,  while  strong  hands,  flush  purses  and  well  filled 
bedbing  closets  were  brought  into  requisition,  and  soon  large 
boxes  of  the  needed  articles  came  rolling  into  our  quarters. 

We  may  note  in  a  passing  way,  that  one  of  the  causes 
incident  to  these  discomforts,  was  the  fact  that  some  com- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  289 

panics,  anticipating  a  large  falling  off  under  government 
examination,  had  before  leaving  for  camp,  recruited  their 
companies  above  the  proper  quota,  increasing  the  number 
anticipated  when  preparations  for  their  comfort  were  being 
made  by  the  quartermaster's  department. 

Along  with  these  conditions,  so  undesirable,  came 
another  trial  that  tests  the  metal  of  which  a  fellow  is  made, 
especially  in  the  region  of  his  appetite,  viz  :  the  dire  want 
of  those  palatable  delicacies  that  crowned  the  table  in  a 
goodly  number  of  our  homes;  the  very  thought  of  which 
awoke  the  glands  in  proximity  to  our  masticating  machinery 
to  a  provoking  activity,  which  in  earlier  years  was,  in  com- 
mon parlance  known  as  "  making  the  teeth  water."  Nor 
would  it  stop  with  this  encroachment  upon  us  in  our  waking 
hours,  but  intruded  itself  into  the  ' '  half-fed  "  soldier's  peace- 
ful slumber  on  the  "soft  side"  of  the  loft  floor,  or  his; 
downy  bed  of  clay  in  the  stall  of  some  thoroughbred  of  the- 
bovine  family.  But  betimes  the  home  friends  would  break 
this  spell  of  woes  by  ' '  dropping  in  upon  us, "  with  well  laden 
baskets  of  the  very  article  that  would  answer  our  dreams,, 
and  gratify  our  appetites. 

If  space  would  admit,  we  would  like  very  much  ta 
give  more  than  a  mere  passing  mention  of  other  severe 
trials,  as  that  of  the  heart  pangs  caused  by  recalling  the 
smiles  and  glances  of  the  fair  one  whose  affection  had  not 
perhaps  quite  reached  the  point  of  cohesion,  and  might  be 
won  by  the  other  fellow  whose  patriotism  was  still  a  dor- 
mant quantity.  But  fortunately  for  the  regiment,  the 
number  of  this  class  was  small. 

Thus  all  and  in  all  there  was  an  evening  up  of  these 
ills  and  joys,  until  later  on  the  overdrawn  stores  ot  Uncle 
Sam's  quartermaster's  department  were  sufficiently  re- 
plenished to  enable  us  to  exchange  the  little  that  remained 

19 


2QO  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  our  wardrobes,  for  the  others  that  made  us  presentable, 
either  side  foremost. 

So  likewise,  in  due  time,  the  ordnance  stores  were 
opened,  and  the  new  recruits  were  equipped  with  Spring- 
field rifles  and  other  accoutrements  necessary  to  give  him 
the  appearance  of  a  soldier  and  fit  him  for  practical  drills 
and  impressive  dress  parades,  both  of  which  were  relent- 
lessly kept  up  until  the  day  we  struck  our  tents  in  Camp 
Tanner  and  boarded  the  train  for  new  scenes  and  a  less 
monotonous  career. 

While  we  would  not  attempt  to  create  the  impression 
that  the  weeks  spent  in  this  camp  were  not  devoted  to  such 
•duties  as  were  thought  to  be  necessary  to  the  fitness  of  the 
troops  for  more  arduous  and  trying  service,  which  seemed 
to  be  at  no  great  distance  in  the  future, — duties  to  which 
the  men  submitted  themselves  with  becoming  patience  and 
zeal,  being  stimulated  by  the  thrilling  reports  of  the  before 
unheard-of  victories  over  the  enemy  by  our  marine  forces — 
still,  considering  the  inexperience  and  unhardened  condi- 
tion of  the  men,  these  first  weeks  of  camp  life  were  per- 
haps as  keenly  felt  as  any  in  the  entire  history  of  the 
regiment. 

Once  upon  a  time,  as  the  story  goes,  while  one  of  the 
sentinels  of  this  regiment  was  faithfully  performing  his 
-duty  on  one  of  the  guard  posts  during  the  somber  shades 
of  night,  his  attention  was  arrested  by  approaching  foot- 
falls, and  called  out:  "Halt!  who  comes  there?"  Just 
then  the  approaching  object  accidentally  stumbled,  and 
proceeded  to  express  his  disapproval  of  such  awkwardness, 
or  something  else,  before  answering  the  guard,  and  in  no 
unsubdued  tone  he  exclaimed  (pronouncing  the  sacred 
name  of  our  Saviour),  whereupon  the  guard  sang  out: 
'"Call  out  the  Chaplain."  Of  course,  such  a  personage 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  29 1 

would  find  ready  access  through  our  lines,  especially  where 
one  of  such  pious  thoughts  walked  the  post. 

On  the  25th  of  May,  about  8  o'clock  P.  M.,  orders 
were  received  directing  the  colonel  to  report  with  his  com- 
mand at  Tampa,  Fla.,  immediately,  and  on  the  following 
day  we  had  our  first  experience  in  packing  our  outfits  and 
getting  ready  for  a  move — a  task  of  no  extraordinary  char- 
acter, as  we  had  little  more  than  the  clothes  we  wore  and 
our  blankets. 

Moving  out  to  the  railroad  on  the  morning  of  the  26th 
of  May  we  entered  a  train  of  well  fitted  cars,  which  was 
divided  into  three  sections,  where  we  waited  with  more  or 
less  patience  for  the  moving  of  wheels,  until  the  hours  of 
the  afternoon  grew  very  narrow,  when,  we  pulled  out  of  the 
capital  city  and  hastened  toward  the  land  of  sunshine, 
meeting  with  ovations  all  along  the  route,  but  especially 
after  we  reached  the  southern  states,  where  the  far-famed 
hospitality  of  these  people  was  realized  in  a  way  not  soon 
to  be  forgotten  by  the  boys  who  appreciated  their  palatable 
dainties. 

While  enroute  to  the  point  of  our  destination,  on  the 
28th  of  May,  Colonel  Andel  received  telegraphic  orders 
from  the  war  department,  to  report  to  the  commanding 
officers  of  the  United  States  forces  at  Jacksonville,  Florida, 
which  he  proceeded  to  do  by  turning  our  train  from  its 
proposed  route  toward  the  last  named  place,  where  we  ar- 
rived about  2  o'clock  A.  M.  Sunday,  the  29th.  This  brought 
TUS  into  the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  where  we  were  assigned 
to  the  Second  Division  commanded  by  Brigadier  Gen.  A. 
K.  Arnold,  and  the  Second  Brigade  under  command  of  Col. 
D.  V.  Jackson,  Fiftieth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry. 

On  June  13,  1898,  Brig. -Gen.  W.  A.  Bancroft  re- 
ported to  the  commander  of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  and 


292  HISTORY    OF    THE 

was  assigned  command   on  the  Second  Brigade,  relieving 
Colonel  Jackson. 

On  the  5th  of  August  the  regiment  was  transferred 
from  the  Second  Division,  Second  Brigade,  to  the  Third 
Division  under  Brig. -Gen.  Lucius  F.  Hubbard  and  the  Sec- 
ond Brigade  under  Brig. -Gen.  James  H.  Barkley. 

On  the  29th  and  3Oth  of  September  and  the  ist  of  Octo- 
ber, the  regiment  was  detailed  by  companies  to  do  provost 
duty  in  Jacksonville,  Florida,  and  ordered  to  report  to  Pro- 
vost Marshal  Major  Russel  B.  Harrison.  The  regiment 
continued  on  provost  duty  during  its  stay  in  this  locality, 
and  during  which  time,  on  the  re-organization  of  the  Corps, 
it  was  transferred  to  the  First  Division  under  command  of 
Maj.-Gen.  J.  Warren  Keifer,  and  to  the  Second  Brigade 
under  command  .of  Brig. -Gen.  H.  T.  Douglas.  While  all 
this  was  going  on  in  camp  "  Cuba  Libre,"  the  Fourth  was 
having  experiences  not  any  more  pleasant  in  its  new  quar- 
ters into  which  they  had  just  moved.  But  their  condition 
was  very  much  improved  by  the  kindly  hospitality  of  the 
citizens  of  Jacksonville,  and  vacant  buildings  which  we  did 
not  hesitate  to  occupy  even  without  an  invitation.  Still  it 
must  not  be  inferred,  that  with  all  these  advantages  our  lot 
was  one  to  be  desired  or  highly  enjoyed. 

We  here  diverge  to  give  place  to  events  touching  the 
division.  Along  with  all  the  other  ills  met  with  in  Camp 
Cuba  Libre  was  the  storm  of  October  2.  The  day  preced- 
ing was  one  somewhat  ominous  of  storm,  yet  not  enough 
so  to  have  awakened  any  thought  of  an  unusual  occurrence, 
but  the  wildest  midnight  dream  was  to  be  realized  in  a  few 
hours,  for  scarce  had  they  pillowed  their  heads  on  pillow- 
less  cots,  when  the  storm  that  had  been  hatching  from  the 
serpent's  egg  in  the  sea,  burst  in  upon  them  in  its  fury, 
while  the  rain  fell  in  sheets  rather  than  drops,  beating 
through  our  time-worn  or  otherwise  non-rainproof  tents. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  293 

Not  only  did  the  howling  of  the  wind  and  cracking  of 
the  canvas  bid  successful  defiance  to  the  god  of  slumber 
and  sweet  dreams,  but  we  awoke  more  fully  to  the  fact  that 
danger  was  upon  us,  and  soon  there  was  a  stir  in  camp, 
and  the  sound  of  hammers  evidenced  that  tent  pegs  were 
receiving  attention,  while  voices,  keyed  well  up  in  "  G, " 
told  of  the  fruitlessness  of  all  such  efforts  in  this  region  of 
sand.  Toward  the  dawn  of  day  the  storm  began  to  assu- 
age, and  the  early  day,  found  about  all  out  trying  to  learn 
who,  if  any,  had  met  with  more  trouble  and  loss  than  they, 
for  in  the  contest  some  of  them  had  lost  more  than  their 
hats  through  the  collapse  of  their  tents.  But  while  con- 
soling ourselves  that  the  worst  was  over  and  that  so  little 
damage  had  been  done,  as  though  it  had  been  hiding  in 
some  quiet  nook  noting  the  varied  comments  on  its  very 
recent  visit  and  inability,  until  whet  into  a  rage,  it  rushed 
upon  us  afresh,  and  with  such  increased  fury  as  to  put  to 
shame  the  blow  and  rain  torrents  of  the  past  night.  Not 
only  did  it  moan,  but  shrieked  and  howled  among  the 
pines,  prostrating  the  weaker  ones  and  compelling  others 
to  bow  and  kiss  the  earth  with  their  topmost  boughs,  while 
only  those  sturdy  from  age  were  able  to  maintain  anything 
near  an  upright  posture. 

The  experiences  of  the  night  were  but  a  foretaste  of 
what  each  rapidly  recurring  blast  now  told  us  was  at  hand. 
Tents  succumbed  and  went  down  in  rapid  succession,  and 
the  belongings  of  their  occupants  were  scattered  and 
drenched  by  the  heavy  fall  of  rain,  necessitating  prompt 
and  vigorous  effort  to  keep  them  in  camp.  The  Third 
Division  Hospital  was  feeling  the  weight  of  it,  and  the  few 
who  had  rushed  to  its  protection,  proving  insufficient  for 
the  task,  General  Barclay  came  to  the  rescue,  not  only 
putting  forth  his  personal  effort,  but  also  urging  others  to 
come  to  the  help  of  those  who  were  battling  with  disease. 


294 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Poles  were  carried  and  laid  on  the  lower  edge  of  the  side- 
walls  and  men  stood  upon  them  as  weights.  Athletes 
climbed  to  the  top  and  sat  astride  the  ridge  poles,  others 
tugged  at  the  ropes  that  had  drawn  their  pegs,  while  with- 
in the  nurses  and  others  held  blankets  and  other  articles 
over  the  sick  to  shelter  them  from  the  rain  that  beat  like 
mist  through  the  canvas  roofs  above  them.  It  was  by 
such  heroic  efforts,  in  which  none  felt  too  high  to  lend  a 


STORM    SCENE    AT     3D    DIVISION    HOSPITAL. 

strong  helping  hand,  that  the  entire  line  of  hospital  tents 
were  not  demolished  and  the  sick  left  to  the  mercy  of  an 
almost  unmerciful  storm. 

On  the  2Oth  of  October,  the  regiment  was  removed  to 
the  city  of  Savannah,  Georgia,  in  advance  of  the  Seventh 
Army  Corps,  where  it  continued  to  do  provost  service  until 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  295 

the  4th  and  5th  of  December,  when  it  was  ordered  to  quart- 
ers in  Camp  Onward,  at  the  southeast  part  of  the  city  of 
Savannah. 

After  outlining  these  changes,  we  return  to  take  up 
other  phases  of  the  history  of  the  regiment,  pertaining  to 
its  stay  in  the  vicinity  of  Jacksonville  and  Savannah. 
Having,  as  before  stated,  reached  Jacksonville,  Florida,  in 
early  morning  of  May  29,  we  remained  on  board  the  train 
until  daylight,  taking  our  breakfast  before  disembarking. 

Having  marched  some  two  and  a  half  or  three  miles,  we 
found  ourselves  in  a  suburban  district  of  the  city,  called 
Springfield,  where  our  quarters  in  the  great  camp  "  Cuba 
Libre  "  were  located,  and  which  we  named  Camp  Spring- 
field, as  it  so  well  fitted  the  name  of  the  capital  city  of  our 
state. 

Our  camp  site  evidently  was  selected  during  the  dry 
season  of  the  year,  since  there  is  a  wet  season  here  as  we 
learned  from  experience  later. 

The  site  was  a  level  sandy  stretch  of  country  with 
nothing  inviting  about  it,  at  least  to  an  Illinoisan,  so  accus- 
tomed to  the  cla^  soil  and  its  luxuriant  growth  of  his  own 
state. 

Still  this  camp  was  not  entirely  void  of  vegetation,  be- 
ing overgrown  to  a  great  extent  with  dwarfed  pine  and 
palmetto  (for  the  heat  and  rain  here  would  dwarf  anything 
but  sand  burrs  and  graybacks),  which  furnished  very  little 
shade  and  much  discomfort.  Thus  our  initiation  was  any- 
thing but  that  which  tends  to  awaken  admiration,  since  our 
arrival  was  welcomed  by  a  blistering  hot  sun,  that  heated 
the  sand  almost  to  the  burning  point  during  the  middle  of 
the  day,  while  that  which  was  expected  to  furnish  us 
shelter  therefrom  was  scarcely  more  than  a  mockery  as  a 
shade;  for  these  little  sand  pines  are  simply  crowned  with 
a  small  tuft  or  crest  of  needle  like  leaves.  On  the  other 


296  HISTORY   OF   THE 

hand  the  palmetto  plants  had  to  be  cut  away  or  dug  up  in 
order  to  secure  a  spot  large  enough  on  which  to  lie  down 
with  comfort. 

Having  come  into  camp  in  the  forenoon,  the  heat  con- 
tinued to  intensify,  driving  us  to  every  imaginable  device 
for  protection.  One  of  the  simplest  and  most  effective 
used  in  some  parts  of  camp,  being  constructed  by  planting 
four  of  our  guns  with  bayonets  attached,  points  downward, 
forming  a  square,  and  then  stretched  a  blanket  over  them 
attaching  each  corner  to  a  gun,  and  propping  the  center  with 
another  gun.  This  formed  an  excellent  protection  from  the 
sun's  rays  over  a  small  space,  but  not  from  the  wind,  made 
unusually  hot  by  its  passage  over  the  burning  sand.  But  as 
the  day  wore  on  tentage  was  brought  to  camp,  and  with 
eagerness  we  moved  to  the  pitching  of  the  same. 

Once  settled,  the  grubbing,  ditching,  bridge  building 
and  other  like  duties  attending  the  clearing  and  beautifying 
of  a  new  country  were  entered  into  in  a  systematic  and 
general  way  to  the  utilizing  of  about  every  enlisted  man  in 
the  regiment,  giving  to  our  regiment  the  name  of  "The 
Florida  Land  Improvement  Company." 

While  here  mails  reached  the  camp  something  after 
the  olden  time  style  of  private  conveyance.  Nor  was  there 
danger  of  having  to  leave  any  of  it  in  keeping  of  the  city 
office  for  want  of  sufficient  capacity  to  bring  it  to  camp, 
however  prolific  our  friends  might  be  with  the  quill,  fertile 
brain  and  loving  hearts,  as  a  picture  of  one  of  the  "cannon 
ball  "  mail  wagons  will  illustrate. 

It  was  here  and  at  such  service,  often  wading  slush 
and  water  several  inches  deep  in  order  to  accomplish  it,  we 
prepared  the  soil  and  planted  many  and  deep  the  seeds  that 
yielded  to  us  so  bountifully  the  harvest  of  disease  and  death 
which  we  gathered  in  the  camp  at  Panama  Park,  to  which 
we  were  removed;  but  not  until  it  would  have  been  appar- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


297 


ent  to  either  "half  of  a  natural  born  fool  cut  in  two  in  the 
middle  "  that  nothing  could  ever  redeem  that  sand  swamp. 
Although  mud  was  a  thing  never  seen  here,  however 
much  rain  visited  the  country,  to  have  entertained  the  idea 
that  we  would  ever  be  disturbed  by  this  element  would 
have  been  thought  an  indication  of  approaching  insanity. 
But  these  delusions,  as  they  proved,  were  completely  swept 
away  by  the  rainy  season,  which  stole  gently  upon  us  about 


FAST    MAIL. 

July,  and  for  several  weeks  the  rains  were  a  daily  occur- 
rence, and  the  gentle  shower  became  a  torrent  that  rilled 
every  low  place  in  the  camp,  until  some  of  the  companies 
had  to  build  bridges  to  get  from  one  part  of  the  camp  to 
another,  while  they  were  often  necessitated  to  wade  from 
place  to  place,  in  protecting  their  tents  and  belongings, 


298 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


in  water  from  six  inches  to  two  feet  deep.  Among  those 
who  met  with  these  difficulties  to  the  greatest  extent  were 
Company  B  and  those  of  the  Third  Battalion — the  last 
three  or  four  squads  nearest  the  mess  tents  having  to  wade 
in  and  elevate  their  tent  floors  on  piles  or  stakes  and  "walk 
the  water"  on  going  to  their  meals,  while  the  frogs  sang 
their  lullaby  under  the 'tent  floors  to  sooth  the  minds  of  the 
sleepers  above. 

Added  to  all  this  was  the  fact  that  our  tents,  which 


CORDUROY    BRIDGE. 

were  made  of  material  little  better  than  common  shirting, 
were  almost  no  protection  from  the  torrents  of  water  that 
fell  upon  them,  so  that  our  ponchos  had  to  be  used  as  the 
top  cover  of  our  beds. 

Such  were  the  conditions  existing  in  our  camp  on  enter- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


299 


ing  the  sunny  south,  and  from  which  we  were  transferred 
to  Panama  Park,  still  in  the  limits  of  Camp  Cuba  Libre, 
but  some  three  miles  from  our  Springfield  camp.  It  was 
here  the  effects  of  the  former  camp  conditions  and  life 
showed  themselves  in  the  sickness  that  so  rapidly  reduced 
the  men  of  the  regiment  able  for  duty,  to  less  than  one- 
fourth  its  regular  strength,  while  hospitals  and  hospital 
forces  were  taxed  to  their  utmost  capacity. 


SCENE    IN    PANAMA    PARK. 

As  a  pen  picture  cannot  present  these  things  in  any- 
thing near  their  reality,  we  forego  a  further  delineation, 
leaving  it  to  a  vivid  imagination  to  paint  it,  with  no  fear  of 
its  being  overdone. 

During  the  early  part  of  June  an  order  from  the  war 
department  directed  that  all  volunteer  regiments  be  re- 
cruited up  to  the  regular  quota  of  one  hundred  and  three 


300 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


COMPANY    STREET    IN    CAMP    CUBA    LIBRE. 

enlisted  men,  which  gave  to  each  company  of  our  regiment, 
with  one  or  two  exceptions,  an  addition  of  nineteen.  Ac- 
cordingly, officers  were  duly  appointed  and  sent  into  the 
localities  from  which  the  companies  came,  and  in  due  time 
the  requisite  number  was  secured,  examined,  mustered 
in,  and  sent  forward  to  join  the  regiment,  where  they  were 
assigned  to  their  respective  companies,  thus  increasing  the 
regiment  to  over  twelve  hundred  men.  This  called  for  an 
additional  drilling,  of  which  we  all  thought  there  had  been 
enough  before.  Aside  from  drill,  dress  parade,  guard 
mount,  guard  duty,  and  review,  we  had  another  duty,  des- 
signated  "  fatigue  duty,"  and  comprehended  about  every- 
thing else  required  of  a  soldier.  Nor  was  it  necessarily  such 
duty  only  as  is  imposed  in  the  line  of  punishment,  but 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


301 


BREAKING    CAMP    AT    CAMP    CUBA    LIBRE. 

for  which  any  soWier  may  be  detailed.  Our  illustration 
shows  part  of  a  line  of  such  detail  carrying  lumber  for  the 
erection  of  "  rness  shacks"  and  tent  floors,  during  the  stay 
at  Camp  Cuba  Libre. 

This  camp  has  been  called  also  the  "  drill  grounds  " 
of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  and  certainly  the  Fourth  has 
no  reason  to  complain  because  of  a  lack  of  this  kind  of' 
seasoning  in  its  military  pie,  any  more  than  that  of  fatigue 
duty. 

Battle  tactics  were  something  into  which  variety  en- 
tered almost  without  end,  from  the  simplest  movements 
that  at  first  tangled  the  feet  of  a  "tenderfoot,"  as  well  as 
his  head,  to  the  more  complicated  battle  manceuvers,  which 


302 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


FATIGUE    DUTY. 

our  boys  had  no  opportunity  of  proving  as  to  their  value 
in  the  hour  for  which  they  were  designed. 

Marches  were  another  phase  of  exercise  in  this  camp, 
designed  to  toughen  the  muscle,  and  to  give  one  "  wind  " 
for  the  toilsome  march  following  up  fleeing  Spaniards. 

The  reader  can  here  look  upon  a  company  ready  for 
such  a  "  hip." 

There  were  some  things  not  necessarily  connected  with 
what  constituted  a  high  proficiency  in  ordinary  drill  or  bat- 
tle tactics,  yet  extremely  pleasurable  to  all  who  took  part 
in  it,  except  the  other  fellow  who  was  sent  on  short  but 
rapid  marches  toward  the  moon. 

This  blanket  drill  was  a  very  common  thing  in  some 
localities  in  camp,  even  going  to  the  extent  of  drafting  a 
negro  woman  into  the  least  desirable  part  of  it. 

The  accompanying  cut  is  from  a  snap-shot  taken  in 
an  adjoining  regiment,  and  in  which  an  old  darky  figures 
prominently  in  the  ascending  act.  Still  with  all  the  real 
pleasure  connected  with  it,  our  boys  never  indulged  in  it, 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


305 


except  as  a  remedial  exercise,  /.  e. ,  when  the  important- 
party  in  the  transaction  was  "  liver  grown  "  or  something, 
of  that  sort. 

Along  with  the  very  undesirable  conditions  growing, 
out  of  the  ill  health  of  the  regiment  at  this  time,  came  that 
of  unharmonious  feelings  and  conditions  among  certain 
officials,  which  at  times  seemed  to  threaten  the  existence 
of  the  organization.  But  not  desiring  to  impose  a  personal 
opinion  as  to  the  causes  leading  to  the  merits  in  the  case, 
neither  as  to  the  proceedings  or  finding  of  the  court — much: 
less  to  attempt  the  settling  of  blame  where  it  justly  belongs, 
or  cast  reflections  on  any  one  directly  or  indirectly  con- 
cerned, we  shall  content  ourselves  with  simply  giving 
the  facts  as  we  have  been  able  to  gather  them  from  records 
accessible  at  this  time. 

On  the   25th  day   of  August,  1898,  officers'  call   was 
20 


306  HISTORY    OF    THE 

sounded  summoning  them  to  headquarters  where  they  were 
interrogated  by  the  Colonel  as  to  the  correctness  of  certain 
reports  that  had  become  current  through  the  daily  press  of 
the  country..  Being  informed  by  Major  Elliott  as  to  the 
correctness  of  the  same,  the  colonel  thereupon  read  an 
order  placing  Lieut. -Col.  S.  A.  D.  McWilliam's,  Maj.  L. 

E.  Bennett,   Maj.  E.    J.  Lang   and   Maj.  E.  E.  Elliott   in 
arrest.      But  owing  to  the  fact  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mc- 
Williams  was  on  duty  as  inspector  of  the  Third  Division 
Seventh  Army  Corps,  under  command  of  Brig. -Gen.  Lucius 

F.  Hubbard,  he  was  not  technically  at  any  time  in  arrest. 
Major  Bennett  being  field  officer  of  the  day  for  the  Third 
Division  Seventh  Army  Corps,  and   Major   Lang  being  at 
the  same  time  field  officer   for   the   Second   Brigade  of  the 
Third  Division  Seventh  Army  Corps,  were  exempt  from  the 
order  of  arrest  until  relieved  from  their  respective  duties  on 
the  following  -day,  August  26th.     The  foregoing  arrests  be- 
ing made  on  special  order  from  Colonel  Andel's  headquar- 
ters,  and  those  in  arrest  were  kept  in  close  confinement  in 
their  respective   tents  until  September   2nd,  when  Major 
Elliott  was  released  and  charges   preferred   against  Major 
Bennett,  Major  Lang  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  McWilliams. 
The  general  charge  preferred  against  those  accused  was, 
"conduct  unbecoming  an  officer  and  gentleman  in  violation 
of   the  sixty-first   article   of  war;"  while  the  specifications 
were  substantially  as  follows:      "That  these  officers  joined 
in  sending  a  telegram  to  Gov.  John  R.  Tanner,  of  Illinois, 
in  which  the  statement  was  made  that  a  very  large  percent- 
age of  the  members  of  the  regiment  were  in  favor  of  going 
to  Cuba,  and  asking  the   Governor  to  use  his  influence  to 
that  end." 

In  addition  to  the  above,  Major  Bennett  was  also 
charged  "  With  conduct  to  the  prejudice  of  good  order  and 
military  discipline,  in  violation  of  the  Sixty-second  Article 


FOURTH   ILLINOIS.  307 

of  War;"  the  specification  being,  substantially,  that  Major 
Bennett  had  called  upon  General  Lee  and  General  Barclay 
without  permission  being  first  had  from  Col.  Casimer  Andel. 
Also  this  additional  general  charge  was  made  against 
Lieutenant-Colonel  McWilliams,  viz.:  "Conduct  unbe- 
coming an  officer  and  gentleman,  in  violation  of  the  Sixty- 
first  Article  of  War."  Specifications  under  this  charge 
were  substantially  as  follows: 

FIRST    SPECIFICATION. 

Disobedience  to  orders,  in  that  Lieutenant-Colonel 
McWilliams  did  leave  camp  one  night  when  he  had  been 
left  in  command  of  the  regiment  by  Colonel  Andel. 

SECOND    SPECIFICATION. 

That  Lieutenant-Colonel  McWilliams  did  not  report 
for  duty  to  Colonel  Andel  when  he  (McWilliams)  was  re- 
lieved from  duty  as  provost  marshal  of  the  Second  Division 
of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps. 

On  September  12  counter  charges  were  preferred 
against  Col.  Casimer  Andel  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mc- 
Williams, as  follows: 

FIRST   CHARGE. 

The  first  general  charge  was,  ' '  Incompetency  to  com- 
mand and  ignorance  of  military  matters,  usages  and  forms, 
to  the  prejudice  of  good  order  and  military  discipline,  in 
violation  of  the  Sixty-second  Article  of  War." 

The  specifications  under  the  charge  were  substantially 
as  follows: 

i,  Col.  Casimer  Andel,  while  in  command  of  his 
regiment  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  did  cause  his  regiment  to 


3O8  HISTORY    OF    THE 

form  in  columns  of  two's,  and  commanded  substantially  as 
follows:      "On  right  and  left,  go  each  way,  march!" 


SECOND    SPECIFICATION. 


"That  Colonel  Andel  did  on  various  occasions,  being 
prepared  to  pass  in  review  and  being  in  line  of  masses,  did 
give  the  command  change  direction  by  the  right  flank." 


THIRD    SPECIFICATION. 

"  That  on  many  occassions  he  did  halt  the  regiment 
and  ask  his  subordinate  officers  the  necessary  commands  to 
manoeuver  the  regiment  into  such  positions  intended." 

FOURTH    SPECIFICATION. 

"  That  Colonel  Andel,  on  or  about  May  20,  1898,  said 
of  Company  K,  of  the  regiment,  that  he  would  rather  it 
would  not  be  mustered  into  the  United  States  service;  that 
he  could  furnish  a  company  from  Belleville  in  twelve  days 
to  take  its  place.  That  it  was  not  necessary  for  officers  to 
be  acquainted  with  drill  regulations  to  command  troops. " 

FIFTH  SPECIFICATION. 

"That  Colonel  Andel  said  to  Captain  Courtney,  of 
Company  M,  substantially  that  if  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mc- 
Williams,  Majors  Bennett,  Lang  and  Elliott  wanted  to  go 
to  Cuba  they  would  go  without  their  arms." 

SIXTH    SPECIFICATION. 

"That  Colonel  Andel  permitted  private,  afterward 
Sergeant  Ropiequet,  to  sign  his  official  signature,  to- wit: 
'  Casimer  Andel,  commanding  Fourth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,'  to  official  papers  to  superior  officers." 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  309 

SEVENTH    SPECIFICATION. 

"That  Colonel  Andel  established  a  regimental  bakery 
and  detailed  enlisted  men  with  more  or  less  experience  as 
bakers,  and  promised  such  enlisted  men  that  he  would 
cause  one  hundred  loaves  of  bread  to  be  issued  to  each 
company  for  each  one  hundred  pounds  of  flour  from  the 
company's  ration,  the  surplus  flour  to  go  to  the  said  bakers 
as  extra  pay.  This  said  extra  flour  was  stopped  in  a  few 
days  by  the  colonel,  who  ordered  that  such  extra  flour 
should  be  baked  into  pies,  rolls,  buns  and  other  healthful 
breadstuffs  which  should  be  sold  to  any  person  wanting  the 
same,  provided  the  purchaser  paid  for  the  same  with  can- 
teen checks  only;  turning  the  surplus,  if  any,  after  paying 
the  expense  of  the  baking,  into  a  common  fund,  which  was 
to  be  distributed  to  the  company  fund.  This  was  not 
followed  out,  and  the  bakers  sold  and  delivered  bread  to 
any  person  wanting  the  same,  for  legal  tender  money,  from 
any  bread  on  hand,  whether  the  companies  had  drawn  their 
full  amount  or  not,  all  with  the  full  consent  of  the  colonel." 

SECOND  CHARGE. 

"Conduct  unbecoming  an  officer  and  gentleman,  in 
violation  of  the  sixty-first  article  of  war." 

FIRST    SPECIFICATION. 

"That  Colonel  Andel  did,  on  many  occasions  in  Au- 
gust and  September,  sign  certificates  to  requisitions  for  fuel, 
forage,  straw  and  illuminating  supplies,  in  words  as  fol- 
lows :  '  I  certify  that  the  above  requisition  is  correct  and 
just;  that  the  articles  required  have  not  been  previously 
drawn  for  any  part  of  the  time  above  charged;  and  that  the 
private  animals  for  which  forage  is  required,  are  actually 


310  HISTORY    OF    THE 

owned  and  kept  by  the  officers  of  my  command  in  the  per- 
formance of  official  military  duties,  being  on  duty  with 
troops  in  the  field  or  military  post  or  station.'  Which  cer- 
ticate  is  false,  in  that  it  made  requisition  for  one  private 
horse  owned  by  Chaplain  H.  W.  Todd,  when  said  H.  W. 
Todd  did  not  own  a  horse  in  the  United  States  service." 

A  general  court  martial  was  convened  pursuant  to  the 
following  order  at  9  A.  M.,  September  15,  1898,  to  try 
these  case  above  cited,  and  such  other  matters  as  should 
come  before  them. 

HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH  ARMY  CORPS, 

CAMP  "CUBA  LIBRE," 

JACKSONVILLE,  FLORIDA,  SEPT.  13,  1898. 

Special  Order  )  _  EXTRACT  _ 

No.   99.        ) 

Par  5.  A  general  court  martial  is  hereby  appointed  to 
meet  at  this  camp  at  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  on  Thursday,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1898,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  practicable,  for 
the  trial  of  Majors  Edward  J.  Lang  and  L.  E.  Bennett, 
Fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  such  other  persons 
as  may  be  properly  brought  before  it. 

DETAIL  FOR  THE  COURT. 

Brig. -Gen.  Henry  C.  Hasbruck,  United  States  Volunteers. 
Brig-Gen.  Lloyd  Wheaton,  United  States  Volunteers. 
Brig. -Gen.  H.  T.  Douglas,  United  States  Volunteers. 
Col.  W.  H.  Mabry,  First  Texas  Volunteer  Infantry. 
Col.  James  S.  Pettit,  Fourth  United  States  Volunteers. 
Lieut. -Col.  Calvin  D.  Cowles,  First  North  Carolina. 
Lieut. -Col.   Curtis    Guild,    Jr.,    Inspector-General   United 
States  Volunteers. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  31  I 

Capt.    Henry  A.   Wise,   Fourth    United    States  Volunteer 

Infantry,  Judge  Advocate. 

A  greater  number  of  officers  than  these  named  cannot 
be  assembled  without  manifest  injury  to  the  service. 
By  command  of 

MAJOR-GENERAL  LEE. 
R.  E.  L.  MICHIE,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

This  was  the  only  court  convened  by  corps  order  from 
corps  headquarters,  all  other  cases  having  been  tried  by 
courts  convened  by  order  from  division  headquarters. 

Capt.  Joseph  P.  Barricklow  and  Capt.  E.  Wood  Hersh, 
Fourth  Illinois  Volunteers,  were  introduced  as  counsel  for 
the  accused. 

Maj.  L.  E.  Bennett  was  brought  to  trial  September 
15,  1898. 

Maj.  E.  J.  Lang  was  brought  to  trial  September  19. 

Lieut. -Col.  S.  A.  D.  McWilliams  was  brought  to  trial 
September  21. 

The  findings  of  the  court  in  the  several  cases  were  as 
follows: 

Major  Bennett,  to  charge  under  the  sixty-first  article 
of  war — Not  guilty.  To  charge  under  the  sixty-second 
article  of  war — Guilty,  and  sentenced  to  be  reprimanded. 

Major  Lang,  to  all  charges — Not  guilty. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  McWilliams,  to  all  charges — Not 
guilty.  I 

On  the  23d  of  September  Col.  Casimer  Andel  was 
brought  to  trial  on  the  charges  and  specifications  that  were 
lodged  against  him. 

Attorney  Gustavus  A.  Koerner,  of  Belleville,  Illinois, 
was  introduced  as  counsel  for  the  accused. 

The  findings  of  the  court  in  the  case  were  as  follows: 

Under  Charge   i,   not  guilty;  but  under  Specification 


312  HISTORY    OF    THE 

2,  guilty,  to  which  he  pleaded  guilty.  Under  3d  Specifi- 
cation, guilty,  but  attaching  no  criminality.  Under  4th 
Specification,  not  guilty.  Under  5th  Specification,  guilty, 
but  attaching  no  criminality.  Under  6th  Specification, 
not  guilty.  Under  7th  Specification,  not  guilty. 

Under  Charge  2nd,  not  guilty;  but  guilty  of  con- 
duct to  the  prejudice  of  good  order  and  military  discipline, 
in  violation  of  the  sixty-second  article  of  war.  Under 
ist  Specification,  guilty,  excepting  the  word  "false,"  sub- 
stituting therefor  the  words  "  carelessly  made;  "  and  of  the 
excepted  words  "  not  guilty,"  and  of  the  substituted  word 
"guilty." 

SENTENCE  IMPOSED. 

Maj.-Gen.  J.  Warren  Keifer,  in  command  of  the  First 
Division  of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  being  in  command 
during  the  temporary  absence  of  Maj.-Gen.  Fitzhugh  Lee, 
in  reviewing  the  findings  of  the  court  martial,  stated: 
"The  proceedings,  findings  and  sentence  of  the  court  are 
approved,  and  the  sentence  will  be  executed.  Col.  Casimer 
Andel  is  therefore  suspended  from  the  rank  and  command 
as  an  officer  in  the  Volunteer  Army  of  the  United  States 
for  the  period  of  six  months,  from  this  date,  and  he  will 
forfeit  to  the  United  States  one-half  of  his  pay  as  an  officer 
for  the  same  period  of  time.  Col.  Casimer  Andel  is  re- 
leased from  arrest." 

^ajor  Bennett  having  been  found  guilty  and  sen- 
tenced to  be  reprimanded,  the  reviewing  authority  said: 
"  In  administering  this  reprimand,  the  Major-General 
commanding  reminds  Major  Bennett,  that  the  sentence  of 
the  court  is  light,  considering  the  gravity  of  the  offense; 
and  the  sentence  can  be  justified  only  on  the  ground  that 
his  conduct  was  mitigated  by  unusual  circumstances.  Ma- 
jor Bennett  is,  however,  further  reminded,  that  an  officer 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  31$ 

honors  his  high  character  by  good  conduct  at  all  times,  re- 
gardless of  conditions  and  circumstances  surrounding.  Ma- 
jor Bennett  is  released  from  arrest  and  will  return  to  duty." 

APPEAL  OF  COLONEL   ANDEL. 

Colonel  Andel  through  his  attorney  carried  his  case 
before  the  President  of  the  United  States,  who  caused  a 
special  order  from  the  War  Department  to  issue  rescinding 
the  findings  of  the  court  martial  and  restoring  Colonel 
Andel  to  duty. 

The  Colonel  held  his  commission  until  November  17, 
1898,  when  he  resigned,  returning  to  his  duties  in  connec- 
tion with  the  First  National  Bank  of  Belleville,  Illinois. 

Eben  Swift,  captain  of  the  Fifth  United  States  Cav- 
alry, then  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Ninth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  was  commissioned  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  at 
once  entered  upon  the  duties  of  this  higher  position,  taking 
command  of  the  regiment  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  from 
which  place  he  led  it  into  the  island  of  Cuba  as  part  of  the 
army  of  occupation. 

Provost  duty  in  the  city  of  Savannah  having  been 
turned  over  to  others  and  the  Fourth  having  had  a  month 
of  camp  life,  they  hailed  with  joy  and  no  little  demonstra- 
tion the  order  that  reached  camp  and  was  delivered  to  the 
staff  and  line  officers  by  Colonel  Swift  in  his  quarters  at 
8:30  P.  M.  on  the  initial  day  of  the  year  1899,  directing 
that  this  regiment  prepare  to  load  baggage  on  the  following 
day  and  to  break  camp  and  embark  on  the  transport 
"Mobile,"  Tuesday  morning. 

The  long  cherished  desire  to  enter  the  land  of  conflict 
having  thus  so  nearly  reached  its  realization,  gave  new  life 
to  the  men,  and  on  the  morrow  there  seemed  little  if  any 
need  of  orders,  except  for  details,  as  every  soldier  seemed 


3  14  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ready  to  do  his  whole  duty  in  the  work  of  packing  and  load- 
ing the  effects  of  the  different  companies,  as  if  to  hasten  the 
time  for  departure. 

But  it  remained  for  Tuesday  to  develop  the  true  elo- 
quence of  the  "camp  yell,"  which  came  at  the  "  first  call " 
of  the  bugle  sounding  out  on  the  crisp  winter  air  of  Georgia, 
long  before  the  dawn  of  day. 

It  was  a  call  to  every  man  able  for  duty,  and  under 
the  circumstances,  few  were  otherwise,  to  pack  his  knapsack 
and  other  personal  belongings,  and  be  ready  for  a  hasty 
breakfast  of  "army  rations,"  praparatory  to  the  march  to 
the  river  docks. 

About  7  A.  M.  the  companies  lined  up  in  heavy  march- 
ing order  and  turned  their  backs  upon  their  tent  homes, 
which  were  to  be  left  behind,  to  bid  them  a  final  farewell  as 
their  feet  began  to  mark  time  to  the  music  of  the  band  in 
a  march  which  led  through  the  streets  of  this  beautiful 
Southern  city,  in  which  they  had  won  a  high  reputation  as 
provost  guards,  as  well  as  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the 
better  classes,  who  were  in  no  wise  stint  in  their  praise,  as 
well  as  expressions  of  regret  at  their  departure. 

It  was  the  privilege  of  the  writer  to  meet  a  goodly 
number  of  the  business  men  of  the  city  without  disclosing 
his  relation  to  the  regiment,  and  in  all  cases  they  spoke  in 
highest  praise  of  the  regiment  for  the  service  it  rendered  in 
unison  with  their  police  force  in  maintaining  order  in  their 
city.  So  persistent  were  their  pleas  for  the  retention  of 
the  Fourth  as  guards  of  the  city,  that  a  lengthy  petition 
was  presented  to  Maj.  R.  B.  Harrison,  praying  him  to 
countermand  the  order  relieving  them  therefrom. 

But  with  all  this,  the  time  had  come  for  the  Fourth  to 
take  its  departure  from  the  city:  a  brief  stay  in  Camp 
Onward  having  been  thought  best  prior  to  their  departure 
for  Cuba. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


315 


But  the  time  having  arrived  for  their  final  leave  of  the 
camp  and  the  city,  they  did  it  in  a  most  commendable  way, 
marching  through  the  streets  in  an  orderly,  soldierly  man- 
ner, reaching  the  wharf  about  9  A.  M.,  and  were  soon 


GOING    ON    BOARD    THE    MOBILE. 

wending  their  way  up  the  narrow  gang  plank  and  entering 
the  hull  of  the  great  transportation  ship  "  Mobile,"  on  which 
the  Ninth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  had  embarked  the 
day  previous  and  awaited  our  arrival. 

While  this  mighty  mansion  of  the  ocean  was  once  a 
cattle  ship  plying  between  England  and  the  United  States, 
her  reconstruction  has  so  completely  transformed  her  inte- 
rior and  to  some  extent  her  exterior,  as  to  cause  the  loss  of 
identity,  so  we  have  been  told.  Her  dimensions  can  be 
best  comprehended  when  we  consider  that  upon  this  trip 


3i6 


HISTORY   OF    THE 


she  carried  two  entire  regiments  with  tentage,  baggage  and 
officers'  horses  and  the  necessary  forage  therefor,  besides  a 
cargo  of  iron  for  ballast;  she  is  virtually  a  five-story  struct- 
ure, with  bunks  sufficient  to  accommodate  all  she  took  on 
board:  while  it  may  be  said  that  her  deck  room  was  not 
adequate  to  give  the  men  that  elbow  room  during  the  day 
they  so  much  desired.  But  this  congested  condition  of  the 
decks  was  soon  relieved  when  we  got  out  to  open  sea,  by 
the  light-headed  boys  seeking  their  berths  below. 


MOBILE    OFF    FOR    CUBA. 

It  was  11:30  when  this  great  ship  loosed  her  moorings 
and  slowly  swung  off  from  the  dock,  in  answer  to  the  line 
from  a  tug  that  gradually  tightened  as  its  whirling  wheel 
set  the  river  in  commotion:  while  an  overfull  comrade  ran 
along  the  dock  shouting  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  and  wav- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  3I/ 

ing  his  arms  frantcially,  hoping  to  induce  the  captain  to 
halt,  and  push  his  little  boat  ashore  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  one  who  had  allowed  his  appetite  to  get  the  mastery 
of  his  mind.  But  to  his  dismay  he  discovered  that  although 
large  bodies  move  slowly,  they  do  not  stop  easily  or  quickly. 
Our  passage  down  the  river  was  one  continuous  ovation,  as 
the  people  lined  the  docks,  the  banks  of  the  river  and  filled 
the  balconies,  doors  and  windows  of  shops  and  factories, 
waving  handkerchiefs,  hats  and  "  Old  Glory,"  while  they 
shouted  their  good-byes. 

About  twenty  miles  brought  us  into  the  blue  sea  where 
for  the  first  time  opened  to  the  view  of  most  of  the  boys 
from  the  prairie  state,  the  grandeur  of  the  old  ocean's  ex- 
panse. Here  our  river  pilot  and  the  little  tug  took  their 
leave,  and  the  massive  machinery  of  the  great  engine, 
hid  away  in  the  inner  chambers  of  our  floating  house  began 
to  move  and  soon  the  peculiar  tremble,  so  well  known  to 
every  sea  fare.-,  was  felt  from  bow  to  stern,  as  the  stately 
ship  plowed  the  deep  under  the  pressure  of  her  own  giant 
engines. 

The  trip  was  one  of  no  significant  occurrence,  except 
a  dense  fog  that  settled  on  us  a  few  miles  out,  and  which 
led  to  repeated  soundings  of  the  great  fog-horn  whistle, 
the  loud,  hoarse,  mournful  tone  of  which  almost  sent  a 
chill  through  the  frame  of  a  sturdy  soldier,  while  the  prev- 
alence of  that  unpleasant  accompaniment  called  "  sea  sick- 
ness "  made  a  goodly  number  feel  like  taking  their  depart- 
ure to  some  more  desirable  place,  as  it  twisted  them  into 
laughable  contortions  of  body,  making  heavy  claims  on 
their  breakfast  if  not  the  supper  of  the  previous  evening, 
while  their  more  favored  comrades  consoled  them  with  the 
fact  that  it  was  not  fatal,  but  rather  a  normal  health- 
producing  process. 

On  the  third  day  of  our  voyage,  about   n  A.  M.,  we 


3l8  HISTORY    OF    THE 

sighted  the  land  of  our  destination,  and  soon  her  beautiful 
hills  and  valleys,  covered  with  rich  verdure,  became  quite 
visible,  and  the  distinct  outline  of  the  stately  royal  palm 
came  gradually  into  view,  producing  a  picture  to  the  eye, 
of  one  just  from  the  frozen  north,  that  would  not  be  easily 
forgotten.  But  the  burden  of  desire  seemed  to  be  a  view 
of  old  Morro  on  his  high  uplifted  rock  bed,  at  the  entrance 
to  Havana  harbor. 

But  this  desire  was  not  realized  until  afternoon.  As  we 
moved  in  a  westerly  direction  toward  the  bay,  we  sighted 
the  light-house  which  towers  many  feet  above  the  battle- 
ments on  the  walls  of  this  grim  old  fort. 

Cabannas  also  stood  out  in  all  her  defiant  glory,  and 
as  we  neared  them  the  mouths  of  their  large  guns  gaped  at 
us,  but  rather  in  amazement  than  with  unfriendly  mien. 
Near  2  o'clock  we  stood  off  the  mouth  of  the  bay,  where 
the  quaint  old  buildings  of  the  city,  smaller  forts  beyond 
the  entrance,  and  the  ancient-styled  boats  with  their 
jabbering  crews,  all  joined  in  the  formation  of  a  scene  of 
antique  grandeur,  beyond  the  ability  of  my  pen  to  picture, 
and  which  only  increased  as  its  larger  dimensions  came  in 
view  while  we  slowly  steamed  up  the  bay,  until  it  formed 
a  bewildering  panorama  as  the  eye  ran  the  entire  circle  of 
the  shore,  clad  with  structures  of  every  seeming  ancient 
type,  from  the  thatched  cabin  of  the  poor  to  the  stately 
mansion  and  warehouse. 

Thus  we  entered  the  rockbound,  fortress-crowned  gate- 
way, to  the  capital  of  this  famous  island;  just  one  year  later, 
and  about  the  same  hour  of  the  day,  when  that  majestic 
ship  of  our  navy,  the  Maine,  moved  quietly  and  peacefully 
through  the  same  channel,  never  to  move  out  again  with  her 
noble  crew. 

Very  impressive  was  this  coincidence  on  the  minds  of 
many  of  our  own  and  the  companion  regiment  on  our  boat, 


32O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  Ninth  Illinois.  But  to  the  novice  not  only  do  these 
scenes  of  the  city  attract  the  eye,  but  also  the  line  of  hills 
that  gradually  rise  from  the  plain  which  entirely  surrounds 
the  city  and  bay  (except  a  few  valleys)  on  whose  crests  the 
frowning  fort,  blockhouse,  or  barbed  wire  trocha  is  seen  at 
short  distances  from  each  other,  telling  to  the  thoughtful 
mind  the  fact  that  this,  the  capital  of  the  once  cherished 
isle  of  Spain,  was  prepared  to  defend  herself  against  an 
equal  foe  for  no  short  length  of  time.  The  bay  itself, 
practically  land-locked,  is  a  stronghold  of  nature's  own 
forming,  while  upon  its  bosom  are  seen  ships  flying  the 
flags  of  many  nations,  as  well  as  some  of  our  own  bulldogs 
of  war  and  merchantmen,  while  near  us,  almost  buried  in 
the  murky,  filthy  waters  of  this  bay,  lie  the  remains  of  the 
ill-fated  Maine,  upon  which,  as  we  gaze,  the  thought  of 
the  terrible  wholesale  murder  committed  in  her  destruc- 
tion about  one  year  ago,  and  the  unsuppressed  thought  of 
revenge  is  heard  to  fall  from  many  lips.  Assisted  by  a 
United  States  tug,  the  Mobile  was  soon  pressing  her  side 
hard  against  one  of  the  spacious  docks  that  project  tooth- 
like  from  the  San  Jose  wharf  sheds,  and  the  work  of 
unloading  was  begun  by  a  motley  gang  of  white,  black  and 
intermediate  colored  men,  all  of  whom  spoke  in  a  strange 
tongue  to  the  American  ear. 

From  the  manner  in  which  they  entered  upon  and 
continued  their  work,  the  critical  onlooker  would  begin  the 
task  of  reconciling  the  facts  before  his  eyes  with  the  state- 
ments he  had  so  often  met  with  as  to  the  inborn  laziness 
of  this  people.  The  unloading  continued  during  the  next 
day,  while  the  army  wagon  train  was  transporting  our 
tents  and  equipage  to  the  camp,  to  which  the  regiment  took 
up  its  march  during  the  second  afternoon,  reaching  their 
destination  awhile  before  sundown.  The  detail  sent  ahead 
not  having  been  able  to  erect  all  the  tents,  the  tired  men 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


321 


SAN    JOSE    ESPIGON    (WHARF). 

detailed  themselves  and  aided  in  the  work  until  by  consid- 
erable crowding,  like  sardines  in  a  can,  sufficient  shelter  for 
all  was  secured. 

Nor  was  the  work  done  sooner  than  was  really  neces- 
sary, for  as  the  shades  of  evening  approached  they  were  pre- 
maturely deepened  by  a  dense  cloud  that  rose  up  as  if  out  of 
the  sea  and  poured  its  liquid  contents  upon  us  in  torrents, 
while  a  stiff  ocean  breeze  pressed  the  sides  of  our  tents, 
testing  the  strength  of  the  guys  and  the  depth  of  the  pegs, 
while  the  water  ran  into  many  tents,  stopping  only  where  it 
came  in  contact  with  some  early  sleeper's  blanket.  As  the 
storm  allayed,  the  ax  and  hammer  could  be  heard  in  differ- 
ent directions  throughout  the  camp,  redriving  tent  pegs 
preparatory  to  the  next  gust  that  seemed  imminent. 

The  next  day,  being  Sunday,  and  a  few  days  following, 
our  camp  was  a  veritable  bee-hive  of  busy  men,  resetting 

tents,  cleaning,  and  otherwise  putting  the  camp  in  a  com- 
21 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  323 

fortable,  tidy  condition.  Camp  Columbia,  the  home  of 
the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  in  whose  bounds  we  are  quar- 
tered, is  located  six  and  one-half  kilometers  northwest  from 
Havana  on  the  military  pike  leading  from  that  city  to 
Pinar  del  Rio  and  on  the  Havana  &  Marianao  railroad, 
with  General  Lee's  headquarters  at  Buena  Vista  station. 
Our  location  was  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  camp  west  of 
the  military  road,  and  a  short  distance  south  from  General 
Lee's  headquarters,  overlooking  the  camps  of  most  of  the 
other  regiments  of  the  corps,  and  the  blue  sea  just  beyond 
to  the  west,  with  the  First  Division  hospital,  the  beautiful 
hills  and  valleys  to  the  east,  beyond  which  lies  the  city 
and  bay  of  Havana,  clearly  seen  from  the  brow  of  the  hill. 
A  more  beautiful  location  could  hardly  have  been  found; 
while  its  topography  and  immediate  surroundings  were 
equally  as  favorable  and  attractive.  Beginning  with  the 
fine  cement-covered  stone  wall  eight  feet  high  and  eighteen 
inches  thick,  on  the  east  side  along  the  pike,  our  camp 
was  quite  level  for  some  twenty  rods  west,  and  where 
our  regimental  headquarters,  hospital,  band  quarters,  ex- 
change, guard  house  (tent),  gospel  tent,  and  guard  mount 
grounds  were  located,  thence  sloping  gradually  westward 
to  the  railroad  near  one-quarter  of  a  mile  distant.  On  the 
east  part  of  this  space,  reaching  to  headquarters  street,  the 
line  of  officers  and  companies  were  located,  with  company 
streets  running  west  to  the  beautiful,  commodious  drill  and 
parade  ground.  At  our  north  and  south,  near  the  pike, 
were  situated  two  fine  homes  which,  in  the  palmy  days  of 
Cuba,  were  surrounded  with  every  conceivable  convenience, 
as  well  as  beautiful  adornment  of  lawns.  Massive  iron  gates 
and  fence,  connecting  with  the  stone  wall,  guarded  the 
front  along  the  pike,  of  the  home  to  the  south,  while  stone 
walls  and  a  most  beautiful  gateway  opened  into  a  street 
leading  to  the  north  home,  on  either  side  of  which  stood  a 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


325 


NORTH  GATE,  CAMP  COLUMBIA. 

row  of  stately  Royal  palms,  lifting  their  crested  heads  high 
toward  heaven,  furnishing  another  of  those  most  beautiful 
pictures  of  Cuba. 

Not  only  was  the  camp  beautiful  for  situation,  but  its 
sanitary  condition  was  not  excelled  by  any  regiment  in 
Camp  Columbia.  And  this  was  not  the  result  of  any  nat- 
ural causes,  but  the  product  of  a  persistent,  energetic 
watchfulness  on  the  part  of  those  in  charge,  coupled  with  a 
systematic  and  to  some  extent  laborious  application  of 
muscle  and  disinfectants.  A  brief  account  of  the  manner 
and  means  to  the  accomplishing  of  these  results  may  not 
be  out  of  place  just  here.  First,  we  may  say  the  design 
of  the  government,  however  slow  in  carrying  it  out,  was 
to  the  health,  comfort  and  convenience  of  the  soldiers. 


326 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


To  this  end  commodious  wall  tents,  nine  by  nine  feet  for 
the  officers  and  sixteen  by  sixteen  for  the  men,  each  pro- 
vided with  a  fly,  all  of  good  material,  were  provided,  and 
as  rapidly  as  the  transportation  of  lumber  would  admit, 
these  were  provided  with  floors,  placed  well  up  from  the 
ground  to  prevent  mould  and  decay  beneath  them,  and 
the  floors  were  required  to  be  treated  to  frequent  applica- 
tions of  water,  with  which,  after  some  delay,  our  camp  had 


STREET    SCENE    AT    DRILL    HOUR,    CUBA. 

an  abundant  supply  of  the  purest  and  best.  Beneath  these 
floors,  and  on  the  clay  floors  of  other  tents,  a  lavish  supply 
of  air-slacked  lime  was  scattered  several  times  a  month, 
as  well  also,  though  not  so  frequenly,  over  the  streets  of  the 
camp.  When  the  weather  would  warrant  it,  the  tent  walls 
must  be  rolled  up  tvvic2  or  three  times  every  week,  and 
daily  the  folding  cots  with  which  the  men  were  provided, 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  327 

all  and  bedding,  must  be  carried  to  the  street,  where  all 
was  exposed  to  the  clear  sun  light  and  pure  air.  Ordi- 
narily, six  men  occupy  one  of  these  large  tents.  Three 
times  a  week  the  detailed  broom  brigade,  armed  with  rattan 
brooms,  sweep  the  entire  camp  from  headquarters  to  the 
foot  of  the  company  streets,  while  the  Cuban  gang,  with 
their  machettes,  go  over  the  entire  camp  as  occasion  re- 
quires and  cut  any  weed,  flower  or  spear  of  grass,  allowing 
no  vegetation  to  grow  for  decay,  while  every  day  after 
breakfast  the  regiment  is  marched  through  the  entire  length 
and  breadth  of  the  camp  quarters,  picking  up  scraps  of 
paper,  orange  peel  and  other  useless  things,  which  later, 
the  sanitary  police,  consisting  of  a  commissioned  officer, 
two  non-commissioned  officers,  and  ten  men,  would  take 
them  from  the  heaps  in  which  they  were  placed  and  put  them 
in  an  army  wagon  or  the  camp  cart  for  conveyance  to  a 
safe  distance  from  camp  or  to  where  they  were  burned 
or  buried.  But  this  is  not  all.  Deep  sinks  are  dug  at 
convenient  places  in  which  all  refuse  from  kitchens  and 
tents  is  deposited,  and  from  five  to  seven  times  a  day  this 
refuse  is  covered  with  a  thin  coat  of  earth  and  a  sprinkling 
of  lime,  only  to  be  followed  by  another  detail,  who  wash 
all  the  seats  and  floors  of  the  closets  with  diluted  carbolic 
acid,  giving  the  already  limed  sinks  a  good  supply  of  the 
same. 

And  oftentimes,  as  if  to  make  doubly  sure  of  a  sure 
thing,  the  force  that  occupy  the  guard  house,  some  times 
larger  and  some  times  smaller  than  others,  owing  to  various 
causes,  are  marched  through  the  camp  with  suitable  tools 
for  the  work  in  hand,  and  the  little  details  are  looked  after 
in  a  scrutinizing  way.  Along  with  all  this  the  white-wash 
gang,  usually  Cubans,  make  their  trip  through  camp  two  or 
three  times  a  month  and  white-wash  about  everything  in 
sight  except  tents,  as  our  pictures  show,  not  even  sparing 


328  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  clothes  and  bedding  hung  out  to  the  sunlight.  With 
all  this  care  it  was  a  surprise  that  we  were  expected  to 
pass  the  ordeal  of  quarantine  and  fumigation  in  order  to 
fit  us  for  admission  to  a  state,  where  disinfection  seemed 
equally  as  important,  looking  to  the  protection  of  our  regi- 
ment. Lest  the  foregoing  should  lead  the  mind  of  the 
reader  to  form  a  wrong  impression  as  to  the  proper  service 
a  soldier  should  render  while  in  camp,  it  is  therefore 
but  just  we  mention  the  fact  that  the  colonel  of  this 
regiment  did  not  impose  upon  his  men  extra  duties  merely 
for  the  sake  of  artistic  ornamentation  or  beautifying  the 
grounds  to  no  practical  value  to  the  command;  hence,  no 
monuments,  or  decorations,  other  than  a  clean  camp,  was 
left  to  mark  the  spot  on  which  the  Fourth  Illinois  Volun- 
teers bivouacked  during  their  history  as  an  army  of  occupa- 
tion in  Cuba. 

The  health  of  the  men  in  this  regiment  was  remark- 
ably good — not  excelled  by  any  period  of  their  waiting  in 
the  United  States. 

Death  visited  our  ranks  but  once,  on  the  fifteenth  of 
January,  and  that  by  drowning  while  bathing  in  the  river. 
Only  one  incident  or  accident  of  note  occurred  while  in 
this  camp,  that  of  the  fall  of  the  immense  water  tank, 
erected  for  flushing  the  sewer  pipe  leading  from  the  camp  to 
the  sea.  This  was  a  substantial  superstructure  erected  at 
the  south  end  of  the  line  of  headquarter  tents  and  near  the 
band  and  hospital  quarters.  The  frame  work  on  which 
the  immense  wooden  tub  or  tank  twenty  by  twenty-four 
feet  was  placed,  evidently  was  strong  and  well  made,  but 
its  posts,  twelve  in  number,  were  placed  on  pillars  of  small 
dimension,  made  of  the  soft  native  lime-stone,  which  is 
not  capable  of  sustaining  any  great  pressure,  and  also  be- 
comes very  brittle  or  rotten  when  saturated  with  water. 
Hence  when  completed  ready  for  roof,  on  the  twenty- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.' 


second  day  of  January  the  water  was  turned  into  it  to  prove 
its  fitness  for  the  task  it  was  expected  to  perform,  the  joints 
and  seams  permitted  the  escape  of  a  considerable  quantity 
of  water,  saturating  the  earth  beneath  it  and  soaking  the 
stone  pillars  until  they  crushed  beneath  the  preasure,  and 
the  structure  careened,  and  with  terrific  crash  the  whole 
was  precipitated  to  the  earth  a  complete  wreck  of  bent 
rods,  bands  and  broken  timbers,  while  the  unpent  water 
like  a  flood  deluged  all  that  part  of  the  camp,  wrecking 


WRECK    OF    THE    TANK. 

several  tents  in  the  band  quarters  and  seriously  twisting 
some  in  headquarters  row,  damaging  considerable  property 
and  bruising  up  the  cook  of  the  band  mess.  Still  life  in 
such  a  camp  could  not  well  be  other  than  pleasant. 

Scarcely  had  we  gotten  our  quarters  in  condition  to 


33O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

live  as  comfortably  as  camp  life  will  admit,  on  entering 
this  camp,  until  it  was  thought  necessary,  or  something 
else,  to  change  the  order  and  begin  the  re-enacting  of  the 
old  program  of  the  states,  with  which  we  had  become  so 
familiar  as  to  lose  our  relish  for  it,  that  is  the  "grand 
review." 

We  were  introduced  to  it  on  Cuban  soil  in  the  form  of 
a  big  review  before  Major  General  Douglas  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  1 6th  of  January,  a  short  distance  southeast  of 
the  village  of  Quemados,  which  lies  at  the  south  side  of 
Camp  Columbia.  This  was,  by  the  unanimous  consent  of 
our  regiment,  voted  to  be  the  "rockiest  "  affair  of  the  kind 
we  had  ever  participated  in,  for  the  face  of  the  field  on 
which  it  took  place  was  literally  covered  with  stone  of 
various  sizes  and  shapes.  Of  course  it  was  a  creditable  (?) 
performance. 

But  this  condition  was  broken  into  again  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  3ist,  when,  in  compliance  with  an  order  from 
General  Lee,  the  whole  corps  was  assembled  on  the 
spacious  parade  ground  at  the  southwest  part  of  the  camp, 
and  reviewed  by  their  distinguished  corps  commander. 

Again, "on  the  i/th  of  February,  another  order  brought 
the  entire  brigade  together  at  the  same  place,  at  which 
it  was  reviewed  by  General  Brooke,  Governor  General  of 
Havana. 

The  hour  for  morning  drrll  on  the  above  day,  as  well 
as  the  day  following,  was  put  in  on  practice  in  pitching 
and  striking  shelter  tents,  preparing  for  what  was  in  the 
near  future.  The  value  of  this  practice  was  demonstrated 
by  the  very  brief  space  of  time  in  which  the  work  could 
be  accomplished,  not  exceeding  two  minutes.  Thus,  in 
case  of  emergency,  preparation  for  storm  could  be  made 
in  time  for  protection.  The  time  for  which  this  drill 
was  more  especially  given,  came  on  the  morning  of  the 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  33! 

1 9th.  An  order  having  come  down  from  the  Second 
Brigade  of  the  First  Division,  directing  the  regiments  of  this 
brigade  to  start  on  a  practice  march  on  that  date,  Sun- 
day. Therefore  the  camp  was  astir  at  an  early  hour, 
and  notwithstanding  the  mud,  which  was  more  like  wax, 
caused  by  the  heavy  rains  of  the  preceding  night,  yet 
with  large  quantities  clinging  to  their  feet  the  work  of 
getting  ready  was  speedily  done,  and  the  Second  South 
Carolina,  the  Ninth  and  Fourth  Illinois  of  this  brigade, 
were  in  readiness  for  the  march  to  Guines;  and  at  about 
9  in  the  morning  this  regiment  filed  out  at  the  north  gate 
of  the  camp  in  light  marching  order,  taking  the  lead  of  the 
other  two  regiments  during  the  first  day's  march.  The  day 
proved  to  be  one  of  Cuba's  balmy  winter  days,  if  anything 
a  little  hot.  Still  the  march  was  a  pleasant  one,  without 
any  mishaps,  except,  that  two  or  three  who  were  scarcely 
able  to  enter  upon  the  march,  were  compelled  to  give  up  to 
an  ambulance  ride  which  continued  through  the  outgoing 
trip. 

About  noon  a  halt  was  called  some  ten  kilometers  be- 
yond Havana  and  the  midday  lunch  was  partaken  of  in  a 
true  soldierly  way  and  with  an  appetite  that  lingered  after 
the  plates  were  clear.  After  an  hour  or  more  rest,  one  of 
the  most  delightful  things  that  ever  comes  to  a  weary  sol- 
dier, we  resumed  the  tramp,  calling  a  halt  at  4  o'clock  east 
of  Cotorro,  on  this,  one  of  the  splendid  military  roads  built 
by  Spain.  Here  we  pitched  our  pup  tents,  and  prepared  for 
our  night's  rest.  True  to  the  characteristic  of  this  regiment, 
there  was  scarely  a  foot  of  ground  for  two  or  three  miles 
from  our  camp  that  some  of  the  boys  had  not  gone  over,  in 
search  of  something,  whatever  it  might  be,  to  serve  as  a 
reminder  of  the  camp  or  a  souvenir  of  the  occasion. 

A  good  night's  rest  and  a  typical  ration  breakfast,  we 
were  again  ready  to  "hip,"  which  we  began  about  7 


332 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


MILITARY    ROAD    NEAR    SAN    JOSE,    CUBA. 

o'clock,  reaching  San  Jose,  twenty-seven  kilometers  out 
from  Havana,  by  11:30,  where  another  halt  was  made  for 
the  midday  lunch  and  rest.  Having  marched  some  twelve 
miles  after  lunch  we  found  ourselves  beginning  a  gradual 
ascent,  which  became  more  steep  at  times,  winding  its  course 
around  the  ends  of  low  hills  and  along  ravines  until  we  were 
at  the  summit  of  a  large  hill  or  small  mountain  overlook- 
ing a  well  watered  extensive  and  fertile  prairie,  whose 
beauty  and  luxuriant  growth  of  vegetation,  reminds  one  of 
the  fertile  prairies  of  our  own  land.  Out  on  this  broad 
stretch  before  us  and  some  five  and  one-half  kilometers 
east  we  could  distinctly  see  the  city  of  Guines  the  object- 
ive point  of  our  march;  and  beyond  it  the  stack  of  a  large 
sugar  refinery  rose  above  the  plain,  the  capacity  of  which, 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  .       333 

as  we  learned  later,  having  camped  near  it,  was  three 
thousand  pounds  per  day  and  was  in  operation  at  this  time. 

At  our  feet  the  roadway  entered  a  cut  leading  in  a 
circular  descending  course  through  the  promontory  like  brow 
of  the  mountain,  for  a  distance  of  about  one-fourth  of 
a  mile. 

At  its  deepest  point  the  perpendicular  walls  of  soft  lime 
stone  rise  to  a  height  of  perhaps  fifty  feet  with  a  roadway 
twenty  or  thirty  feet  in  width.  In  this  again  we  see  one 
of  the  monuments  of  Spain's  glory,  as  well  as  an  evidence 
that  money,  time  and  labor  counted  for  little  when  an  un- 
dertaking was  on  foot  looking  to  her  martial  advantage  and 
temporary  glory  and  power.  Passing  out  of  this  grand 
piece  of  engineering,  so  skillfully  executed,  we  found  the 
road  rapidly  declining  and  making  another  graceful  curve 
to  the  left  producing  the  letter  S,  thus  lengthening  the  dis- 
tance in  order  to  decrease  the  otherwise  steepness  of  the 
grade.  Soon  after  emerging  from  the  cut  we  turned 
aside  into  a  field  near  the  foot  of  the  mountain  or  hill, 
where  we  pitched  our  tents,  during  a  gentle  shower,  on  a 
sloping  field,  literally  covered  with  small  stones,  which 
we  were  under  the  necessity  of  gathering  from  beneath  our 
little  canvas  roofs,  prior  to  making  our  downy  beds  with 
moistened  blankets,  a  fact  that  did  not  discommode  us  to 
any  great  extent,  since  the  weather  was  mild  and  pleasant 
as  in  our  beautiful  balmy  May  days  in  central  Illinois. 

This  was  the  end  of  another  afternoon's  march  of  about 
sixteen  kilometers.  While  tents  were  being  pitched  the 
cooks  were  rushing  the  open  kitchen  fires  and  hurrying  up 
supper  on  double  time.  Still  our  collapsed  stomachs  had 
to  forego  the  pleasure  of  the  delightful  feast.  For  while 
hunger  made  our  hard-tack  and  boneless  ham,  taken  from 
the  side  of  a  hog,  a  delight  to  the  palate,  yet  at  times,  it 
aroused  a  rebellious  condition  near  the  centre  of  one's  phys- 


MOUNTAIN    CUT. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


335 


OUR  CAMP  AT  FOOT  OF  MOUNTAIN  CUT. 

ical  organism.  Well,  having  "pulled  through"  another 
out  of  time  meal,  and  the  still  hours  of  night  having  passed 
far  up  the  dial,  we  were  admonished  that  our  little  beds 
were  the  place  for  "good  boys:"  hence  we  decided  to  pass 
by  the  delightful  pleasure  of  a  ramble  over  the  mountain 
sides.  But  the  rising  sun  found  birds  of  our  camp  that 
search  for  the  early  worm,  moving  about  in  the  bushes  on 
the  hill  side,  but  using  the  precaution  necessary  to  hearing 
the  breakfast  call.  This  meal  over  and  a  stampede  on  a 
small  scale  took  place  from  the  camp,  for  the  coatless  blues 
were  soon  exploring  every  foot  of  the  east  side  of  the  hill. 
While  it  was  not  a  Klondike  for  curios  and  souvenirs, 
some  of  the  men  brought  back  lime  formations  as  trophies 
gathered  in  the  caves  they  had  discovered,  and  whose  dark 


336  HISTORY    OF    THE 

chambers  they  had  to  some  extent  explored.  As  we  re- 
mained in  camp  here  most  of  Tuesday,  ample  opportunity 
was  offered  for  a  pretty  thorough  exploration  of  the  sur- 
rounding country,  a  pleasure  not  to  be  forgone  by  the  men 
of  this  command,  whose  bumps  of  curiosity  and  inquisitive- 
ness  are  quite  well  developed. 

At  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  camp  was  broken  and  our 
regiment  moved  out  taking  the  lead  in  the  march  of  the 
day,  passing  through  Guines,  another  of  the  quaint  cities 
of  this  island  and  the  second  in  size  in  the  province  of  La 
Habana;  we  again  pitched  our  tents  about  one  kilometer 
northeast  of  the  city,  partly  in  a  rough  corn  field  and  partly 
on  a  beautiful  grassy  plot  in  the  forks  of  a  clear,  deep,  fast- 
flowing  stream  that  rises  from  one  spring  at  the  mountain's 
base,  some  eight  miles  distant;  and  which  is  used  for 
irragating  this  vast  stretch  of  fertile  plains,  as  well  as  for 
water  power.  Hence,  unlike  most  streams,  it  forks  at  the 
wrong  end,  sending  its  waters  out  through  a  multitude  of 
smaller  streams  that  diminish  in  size,  instead  of  taking  on 
from  incoming  rivulets  to  their  increase  as  they  proceed  to  a 
confluence  with  some  other  stream  or  lose  themselves  in  the 
great  ocean.  This  pure,  limpid  stream  was  too  much  for  a 
soldier  who  had  been  sweltering  in  the  hot  sun  of  that  day, 
and  grown  dust  begrimed  on  his  march.  Accordingly,  before 
all  tents  were  pitched,  the  heavy  splash  told  that  the  weary 
soldier  had  reached  one  point  of  his  glory,  and  would  feel 
the  better  for  it.  In  fact,  even  the  Colonel  and  the  Chap- 
lain became  so  undignified  as  to  try  its  cleansing  qualities. 
Just  across  the  east  branch,  on  the  north  side,  the  Second 
South  Carolina  pitched  its  tents,  while  just  across  the  high- 
way east  of  us,  the  Ninth  Illinois  took  up  its  quarters,  thus 
putting  us  in  close  proximity  to  each  other  in  fact,  too  near 
the  fountains  of  cognac  and  other  exciting  decoctions  that 
arouse  the  combative  elements  of  a  soldier  nature.  Now 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  337 

while  "  foraging,"  a  mild  name  given  to  a  practice  in  army 
life,  which  in  a  civilian  is  seriously  repudiated,  was  in  no 
sense  necessary  during  the  occupation  of  Cuba,  and  hence 
could  not  be  justifiable  from  any  standpoint,  yet  it  is  a  fact 
that  it  was  resorted  to  at  times,  and  that  not  always  because 
there  was  a  vicious  desire  back  of  it,  but  from  the  spirit 
known  as  "  fun  "  among  the  boys  in  blue:  and  which  some 
of  them  had  practiced  sufficiently  to  have  reached  the  point, 
where  they  had  a  kind  of  semi  belief  that  it  was  within  the 
bounds  of  a  "pretty  fair  grade  of  army  morals."  Hence 
during  our  encampment  at  Guines,  a  little  episode  along 
this  line  occurred  that  led  to  the  striking  of  a  badge,  that 
was  not  uncommonly  seen  on  the  coat  or  blue  shirt  of  one- 
of  Uncle  Sam's  honor  preservers,  and  which  bore  an  in- 
scription after  this  order:  "  Who  stole  the  hog?  Second 
South  Carolina.  Who  killed  the  hog?  Ninth  Illinois. 
Who  ate  the  hog?  Fourth  Illinois."  The  affair  out  of 
which  this  grew,  at  least  so  far  as  the  best  information  the 
writer  was  able  to  secure,  was  this:  In  the  city  of  Guines,. 
as  in  every  town  in  Cuba,  about  all  the  lesser  and  general 
merchants,  carry  along  with  their  other  line  of  goods,, 
certain  kinds  of  soft  goods  that  can't  well  be  kept  without: 
enclosing  them  in  a  vessel  of  some  kind;  and  for  which 
some  of  the  soldiers  had  a  strong  proclivity  for  making 
themselves  a  suitable  receptacle  for  preservation  of  these 
valuable  (?)  soft  goods.  So  it  seems  a  certain  South  Caro- 
linian had  been  trying  to  take  in  a  quantity  of  these  goods, 
more  or  less,  and  as  usual  they  had  penetrated  the  fibre 
of  his  body,  and  created  a  kind  of  irritation  which  so  affect- 
ed his  brain  as  to  produce  halluciations  of  the  mind,  lead- 
ing him  to  believe  things  right  and  proper  which  at  other 
times  he  would  have  seen  in  another  light,  or  perhaps 
when  there  was  no  light. 

So  it  happened  on  this  occasion,  in  "broad-day  light, '" 
22 


338  HISTORY   OF    THE 

as  this  soldier  was  returning  from  the  place  of  business  where 
he  had  been  kindly  assisting  the  poor  Cuban  in  bottling  or 
transferring  of  his  soft  goods  from  one  receptacle  to  another, 
and  under  one  of  these  peculiar  hallucinations  of  mind, 
he  saw  a  rope  tied  to  a  stake  in  the  yard  of  one  of  the  rus- 
tic Cuban  homes  and  thereupon  a  strong  desire  took  hold 
of  him  to  possess  it:  which. was  "half  the  points"  under 
the  circumstances  to  its  possession,  and  thereupon  he  delib- 
erately untied  the  cord  which  added  another  fourth  to 
the  "points,"  and  moved  off  toward  the  camp  with  one 
end  of  it  in  his  hand.  The  occupants  of  the  hut  hastily 
followed  him,  doing  loud  talking,  and  fearful  gesturing, 
which  the  fellow  could  not  understand,  being  purely  an 
American,  he  walked  on,  simply  carrying  the  end  of  the 
cord.  It  was  while  on  this  peaceful  pleasant  march,  our 
artist  caught  him  with  a  snap-shot  as  he  made  a  brief  halt 
for  contemplation. 

But  the  unfortunate  thing  connected  with  the  whole 
affair,  and  which  seems  to  have  exercised  the  minds  of  these 
Cubans  so  greatly  was,  that  there  was  a  hog,  which  they 
very  much  prized,  at  the  other  end  of  the  rope.  Well,  to 
be  brief,  this  was  the  hog  which  'tis  said  the  Fourth  Illinois 
ate,  which  the  Ninth  got,  which  the  Second  South  Carolina 
stole,  which  was  on  the  end  of  the  string,  which  was  tied 
to  the  stake,  which  was  in  the  Cuban's  yard.  Of  course 
the  Fourth  Illinois  did  not  know  where  the  Ninth  got  the  hog, 
nor  they,  how  the  Second  South  Carolinian  became  pos- 
sessor of  it,  while  he  did  not  know  he  had  it,  for  no  soldier 
ever  steals.  The  nearest  he  ever  gets  to  that  awful  crime 
is  to  "swipe."  On  the  following  day,  Wednesday,  being 
the  22nd  of  the  month,  and  that  on  which  the  "  father  of 
our  country"  was  born,  it  was  thought  to  be  a  fitting  thing, 
though  in  a  foreign  land,  that  we  emphasize  its  significance 
in  some  suitable  way,  as  seen  from  an  American  standpoint. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


339 


SWIPING     A     PORKER. 

Therefore  Major-General  Douglas  issued  an  order  calling  out 
the  whole  brigade  at  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  after 
marching  to  the  city  and  through  its  principal  streets,  we 
passed  in  review  before  the  commanding  general  and  staff, 
who  were  located  in  the  large  park  in  front  of  the  cathedral: 
which  is  the  central  object  of.  reverence  and  admiration  in 
this  city  of  the  plains.  Under  this  structure  it  is  said  are 
located  a  number  of  dungeon  cells,  in  one  of  which  was  con- 
fined a  Spanish  soldier  awaiting  his  punishment.  The  fol- 
lowing day  by  an  unforseen  providence,  was  destined  to  be 
another  gala  day  in  this  city,  and  this  brigade  was  to  perform 
the  conspicuous  part,  by  passing  in  review  before  the  cele- 
brated Gen.  Maximo  Gomez,  who  was  slated  for  a  visit  to  this 
his  home  city,  and  where  his  mother  still  resided.  Accord- 


34O  HISTORY    OF   THE 

ingly  about  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  23d,  we  fell  in 
line  with  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  and  made 
about  the  same  prominent  streets  as  on  the  former  day, 
passing  the  city  hall,  which  is  located  on  one  of  the  narrow 
streets,  thus  necessitating  the  staff  to  form  in  double  file 
to  avoid  crowding  the  people  that  over  filled  the  narrow 
side  walks,  flanking  the  porch  of  the  city  building  under 
which  the  noted  personage,  venerable  with  age,  was  sta- 
tioned, in  the  midst  of  a  dense  throng  of  the  elite  and  promi- 
nent personages  of  the  city.  All  were  decorated  in  their  best 
attire,  not  neglecting  a  plentiful  application  of  the  every- 
where present  face  powder,  that  brings  out  prominently 
the  dark  eyes  and  hair  of  this  Spanish  race,  producing  a  very 
charming  effect.  As  to  what  the  noted  veteran  of  two  wars 
thought  of  the  American  blue  coats  we  are  unable  to  say, 
as  his  opinion  was  never  given  to  the  public.  Yet  the  boys 
were  none  the  less  significant  because  of  his  august  presence. 
Having  shipped  two  of  the  disabled  men  by  rail,  back  to 
camp  Columbia,  we  spent  the  night  of  Thursday  in  our 
quarters,  with  orders  to  break  camp  the  following  morning. 

Friday  dawned  upon  us  as  had  each  day  of  the  week, 
in  all  the  beauty  and  warmth  the  sun  is  capable  of  diffus- 
ing in  this  tropical  isle  during  the  winter,  only  to  reveal  the 
activity  of  an  American  camp  when  orders  require  prompt 
action  and  careful  preparation.  All  of  which  was  true  of 
Camp  Swift,  as  we  are  pleased  to  call  it,  in  honor  of  our 
leader.  Breakfast  over,  and  the  hour  for  departure  having 
arrived,  9  o'clock,  a.  m.,  we  again  moved  out  upon  the 
highway  an  hour  in  the  rear  of  the  Ninth  Illinois,  the 
Second  South  Carolina  having  gone  out  the  preceding 
evening,  and  soon  our  backs  were  upon  the  camp  and  the 
city;  and  thus  we  bid  adieu  to  them,  their  scenes  and  their 
associations. 

Ere  we  were  aware  of  it,  our  first  hour's  march  was 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


341 


up,  and  we  halted  for  the  usual  rest,  when  Colonel  Swift 
dismounted  to  take  part  in  the  "tramp,  tramp,  tramp"  of 
the  boys  when  the  next  start  was  made.  And  not  to  be 
outdone,  the  staff  followed  his  example,  and  soon  we  were 
ascending  the  "S"  shaped  curve  of  the  mountain  road 
leading  to  the  deep  cut;  on  the  soft  limestone  walls  of 
which  the  boys  of  the  South 'Carolina  and  the  two  Illinois 
regiments,  in  no  small  number,  had  carved  their  names  and 
some  hieroglyphics,  to  ,be  read  and  deciphered  by  the 
coming  generations  of  the  Cuban  people,  and  to  remind 
the  traveler  from  America  that  friends  had  preceded  him 
over  this  famous  military  road.  Descending  the  gradual 
decline  of  the  road  through  the  foothills  on  the  west  side, 
we  enter  a  rolling  prairie  country,  in  which  the  royal  palm 
and  other  tropical  vegetation  are  found  in  abundance,  and 


'   RUINS    OF    A    CUBAN    BARN. 


342  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  fine  stone  fences,  massive  gateways,  and  ruins  of  for- 
mer stately  mansions,  are  proof  of  the  splendor,  glory,  and 
wealth  of  this  country  prior  to  the  time  when  the  despoil- 
ing hand  of  war  was  laid  upon  it. 

Having  referred  to  the  remains  of  once  beautiful  but 
now  ruined  buildings,  we  insert  here,  in  a  parenthetic  way, 
the  ruins  of  a  barn  which  stood  on  the  south  side  of  our 
quarters  in  Camp  Columbia,  and  which  we  were  told  was 
the  nearest  point  to  Havana  ever  gained  by  the  insurgent 
army.  So  many  stories  as  to  its  ruin  were  circulated,  that 
we  do  not  venture  to  give  any. 

About  noon  of  this  first  day  of  cur  return  trip,  having 
covered  fourteen  kilometers  of  the  way,  we  filed  into  the 
fields  in  the  midst  of  the  tall  grass  and  partook  of  the  pro- 
visions which  had  been  prepared  before  breaking  camp  in 
the  morning,  and  of  which  we  partook  with  such  a  relish 
that  to  speak  of  it  as  9.  lunch  would  be  to  cast  a  reflection  on 
"  Bill,"  the  colored  cook,  for  our  condition  made  it  a  first 
class  meal.  Our  usual  rest  over,  we  proceeded  on  our  way, 
passing  the  town  of  San  Jose,  which  is  built  after  the  order 
of  towns  in  Cuba  generally,  that  is,  on  either  side  of  the 
main  road  in  a  single  line  of  houses,  continuing  often  for 
some  distance.  About  two  and  one-half  kilometers  west 
the  column  turned  to  the  right  through  a  large  gateway  into 
a  lane  some  sixty  feet  wide,  with  a  fence  on  either  side  con- 
structed out  of  small  stone  and  mortar,  and  which  led  up 
to  a  one-story,  well  equipped  farm  house,  at  the  foot  of  the 
north  mountain,  which  aids  in  forming  this  beautiful  pass 
through  which  the  military  road  leads.  Here  rising  out  of 
the  level  plain  almost  perpendicularly  to  the  height  of  per- 
haps three  hundred  feet,  and  extending  back  north  and 
south  from  the  pass  for  miles,  widening  out  into  low  hills, 
are  the  twin  mountains,  that  one's  imagination  might  pic- 
ture as  having  in  the  distant  past,  been  broken  asunder  by 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


343 


CAMP  AT  MOUNTAIN  PASS,  SHOWING  LANE  AND  CAMP  FROM 
THE  NORTH  MOUNTAIN. 

some  mighty  power  and  pushed  back,  forming  a  beautiful 
gateway  of  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  in  width.  At  this 
point,  we  were  told  by  the  dwellers  in  the  community,  was 
fought  the  battle  of  San  Jose  in  the  late  Spanish-Cuban  war. 
The  Cubans,  secreting  themselves  in  the  brush  and  clefts  of 
the  rocks  on  the  mountain  side,  poured  their  deadly  fire 
into  the  enemy  as  they  were  passing  on  the  road  in  a 
wholly  exposed  position,  with  a  high  stone  wall  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road  from  where  the  Cubans  were,  in 
ambush.  Whether  the  history  of  nations  will  record  the 
glories  of  this  victory  or  not,  we  do  not  pretend  to  say, 
yet  our  informants  seemed  to  look  upon  it  not  only  as  a 
great  battle,  but  a  great  victory  for  the  arms  of  their 
countrymen.  Of  the  temporary  camps  on  this  march, 


344  HISTORY    OF    THE 

nothing  equaled  this  for  beauty  of  scenery  or  outstripped 
it  as  to  conveniences.  Our  congenial  Spanish-Cuban 
host,  who,  with  quite  a  force  of  men,  was  just  in  the 
midst  of  repairing  the  ruins  left  in  the  track  of  contending 
armies,  not  only  cheerfully  gave  permission  to  use  water 
from  his  well,  but  put  his  own  servants  and  mule  at 
our*  disposal,  to  draw  therefrom,  until  our  camp  was 
fully  established,  after  which  a  detail  of  our  own  men, 
Sampson-like,  pushed  the  sweep  that  operated  the  drum  on 
which  the  rope  coiled,  in  bringing  the  crystal  fluid  from  its 
rock  reservoir,  some  eighty  feet  below.  At  no  time  on  the 
march  had  the  boys  been  more  eager  to  get  the  "pup 
tents"  pitched  and  their  luggage  from  their  shoulders  than 
at  this  time.  And  that  after  a  long,  rapid  march;  for  they 
had  pressed  with  such  rapidity  all  day  as  to  crowd  the 
front  rank  of  the  band  up  alongside  the  horses  of  the  staff. 
And  when  halted  because  of  the  close  proximity  into  which 
we  were  coming  with  the  Ninth  Illinois  in  our  lead,  they 
earnestly  called  out  for  permission  from  the  colonel  to 
press  on  and  pass  them.  During  the  whole  day  they  kept 
up  the  regular  one-hundred  and  twenty  pace  to  the  minute, 
if  not  exceeding  it.  But  with  all  this,  their  eagerness  to 
see  and  learn  all  that  could  be  seen  and  comprehended 
about  the  camp  was  early  manifested.  For  soon  voices 
were  heard  echoing  back  upon  the  camp  from  the  steep 
mountain  side  on  the  north,  where  one's  gazing  eyes  could 
discern  the  forms  of  men,  that  appeared  to  be  those  of  chil- 
dren, moving  in  a  zig-zag  direction,  in  and  out  among  the 
crags  and  brushy  growth  that  covered  the  mountain  side, 
and  to  which  they  clung  for  support  and  means  of  ascent. 
Thus  they  could  be  seen  at  intervals  often  of  many 
feet  one  above  the  other,  from  fne  base  to  the  brush  cov- 
ered summit,  where  after  a  short  rest,  the  adventurers  be- 
gan their  descent  over  the  same  perilous  route,  reaching 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


345 


WAGON    TRAIN    AND    NORTH    MOUNTAIN    IN    DISTANCE. 

camp  with  no  greater  injury  than  impaired  clothing, 
scratched  hands  and  soiled  faces.  Soon  after  the  evening 
meal,  darkness  having  settled  its  sombre  shades  about  us, 
voices  were  again  heard  in  the  same  direction,  as  well  also 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  pass,  where  our  eyes  could  de- 
tect a  light  flashing  at  intervals  on  either  mountain  and 
moving  higher  and  higher  up,  which  evidenced  that  the 
Fourth  had  in  it  men  who  could  not  be  satisfied  with  their 
achievements  by  daylight,  but  would  excel  them  by  similar 
feats  accomplished  by  the  help  of  an  army  search  light,  a 
paraffine  or  tallow  candle.  In  due  time  the  program  was 
reversed  and  the  descending  light  bearers  reached  the  plain, 
entering  the  north  and  south  parts  of  camp,  without  any 
mishaps  greater  than  those  sustained  in  the  daylight  adven- 


346  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ture.  Throughout  the  camp  nothing  more  was  thought  of 
it,  until  next  morning  after  breakfast,  the  men  of  certain 
messes  where  heard  extolling  the  sweetness  of  mountain 
honey;  when  further  inquiry  revealed  the  fact  that  the  day- 
light ascent  of  the  north  mountain,  led  to  the  discovery  of 
a  rich  deposit  of  wild  honey  near  the  summit,  and  the  night 
adventure  was  to  secure  the  find,  in  which  they  were  success- 
ful to  a  large  measure,  as  the  buckets  full  of  delicious  nectar 
in  camp  clearly  evidenced.  But  the  climbers  of  the  south 
mountain  would  not  be  thus  outdone  by  comrades  of  no 
higher  rank  or  braver  hearts.  Accordingly  after  a  hurried 
breakfast,  groups  of  men,  some  equipped  with  long  ropes 
and  other  articles  that  might  be  of  use  to  mountain  adven- 
turers, were  seen  wending  their  way  toward  the  rocky  slopes 
of  their  choice,  and  in  a  few  hours  they  began  to  return 
to  camp  with  trophies  of  a  very  different  character,  from 
those  of  their  comrades  on  the  previous  night.  One  of 
these  was  the  person  of  his  wise-looking  monkey-faced 
owlship,  others  were  reptiles  looking  somewhat  like  the 
little  graceful  chameleon  that  play  about  and  capture  the 
flies  in  our  tents  at  camp  Columbia,  only  .much  larger, 
rougher  and  more  undescribable  in  their  appearance:  which 
they  called  Gila  monsters.  These  were  soon  followed  by 
another  squad  bringing  a  reptile  of  greater  dimensions,  be- 
ing a  beautiful  sleek  snake  of  about  five  feet  in  length, 
supposed  to  be  of  the  Anaconda  family,  if  not  one  of  the 
direct  descendants.  Later  three  others  of  these  graceful 
beauties  were  brought  in,  one  measuring  eleven  and  one 
half  feet,  their  captors  caressing  and  handling  them  as  if 
but  an  innocent  kitten,  much  to  the  seeming  enjoyment  of 
the  captive.  When  Brigadier  General  Douglas,  whose 
camp  was  only  a  short  distance  ahead,  heard  of  these  ad- 
ventures, he  remarked  something  like  this:  If  those  Fourth 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


347 


Illinois  men  could  be  camped  near  hell,  they'd  soon  have 
the  devil  out  playing  with  him. 

But  the  boys  of  the  Fourth  would  have  played  with 
him  only  so  long  as  they  had  him  where  things  went  their 
way,  and  beyond  that  there  would  have  been  a  racket. 
These  in-gatherings  are  looked  upon  as  the  regimental  me- 
nagerie, and  until  muster  out,  almost  daily  exhibitions  of 
their  snakeships  were  being  made,  in  the  presence  of  distin- 


SNAKES    AND    OTHER    TROPHIES    OF    MOUNTAIN    HUNT. 

guished  Americans,  who  visited  the  camp.  But  at  our  sepa- 
ration for  home,  they  were  tenderly  borne  by  their  individual 
owners  to  the  Sucker  state  as  trophies  of  the  days  of  army 
occupancy  of  the  island.  While  here  we  also  had  the  picture 
of  poverty  brought  before  us  in  its  reality,  when  companies 
of  old  men,  women  and  children  of  that  class  visited  our 


348 


HISTORY    OF   THE 


camp  to  receive  even  the  refuse  of  our  mess  kettles  and 
tables,  when  we  chanced  to  have  any  of  that  kind  of  art- 
icles on  hand.  These  poorly  clad,  half  clad,  and  scarcely 
clad  at  all,  are  not  the  saddest  specimens  of  the  ravages  of 
poverty,  and  its  attendant  disease,  which  often  reaches  the 
point  that  prevents  their  leaving  home,  hovel,  or  whatever 
may  be  their  place  of  tarrying,  to  go  forth  as  foragers 
about  the  camps.  One  of  our  camera  fiends  got  a  snap- 
shot of  one  of  these  bands,  his  comrades  having  succeeded 


HUNGRY    CUBANS    AT    MOUNTAIN    PASS. 

in  lining  them  up  for  the  occasion,  while  at  the  mountain 
pass  camp.  Still  it  should  not  be  inferred  that  the  habit  of 
going  so  scantily  dressed  is  a  sure  sign  of  abject  poverty, 
for  absolute  nudity  of  children  up  to  six  years  old  is  a  com- 
mon sight  in  this  island.  Even  among  those  in  the  strata 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


349 


above  what  we  would  designate  poverty,  it  is  a  stroke  of 
economy  and  of  common  practice. 

The  conditions  at  this  camp,  above  any  other  on  this 
outing,  seemed  to  be  more  conducive  to  an  easy,  "  as  you 
please"  attitude  in  the  soldier,  from  the  highest  rank  to 
the  humblest  in  the  line.  The  day's  march,  the  balrny 
restfulness  of  the  quiet  breeze,  and  all  the  environments, 
seemed  to  lend  their  aid  in  its  production,  as  some  of  the 


A    HUNGRY     TRIO    WATCHING    BILL   GET    SUPPER. 

snap-shots  of  the  occasion  clearly  evidenced.  About  9:30 
P.  M.,  of  the  day  on  which  we  entered  this  delightful  place, 
and  after  all  at  headquarters  were  snugly  tucked  away  on 
their  folding  cots,  or  peacefully  resting  upon  the  bosom  of 


35O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

mother  earth,  a  voice  was  heard  making  inquiry  for  that 
particular  point  in  camp,  and  soon  an  orderly  from  General 
Douglas'  headquarters,  which  was  located  some  distance  in 
our  advance,  had  scaled  the  wall  and  stood  at  the  open 
front  of  headquarters  tent  with  an  order  in  hand,  directing 
the  colonel  to  remain  in  camp  during  the  next  day.  After 
his  departure  a  few  brief  comments  followed,  and  all  sank 
again  into  that  peaceful  quiet  so  characteristic  of  this  end 
of  the  camp. 

Accordingly  the  trumpet  call  on  the  following  morning, 
Saturday,  created  no  unusual  activity  in  the  camp,  but  the 
inquiry  upon  many  lips  was  "do  we  have  to  break  camp 
this  morning?  "or  "I  wonder  if  we  will  get  a  chance  to  go 
on  the  mountain  today? "  and  many  similar  ones. 

But  knowledge  of  the  order  that  reached  the  camp 
the  night  before  having  been  spread,  all  uneasiness  on  this 
line  was  dismissed  from  the  mind,  and  the  boys  began  their 
hasty  preparations  for  a  real  day's  outing  in  the  timber 
clad  mountain.  It  was  generally  understood  that  camp 
would  be  broken  Sunday  morning  and  the  homeward  march 
continued,  with  the  hope  in  many  minds  of  reaching  camp 
Columbia  the  same  evening,  thus  ending  the  march  and  an 
eight  days'  outing.  B*ut  as  was  common,  at  least  in  this 
army,  we  were  doomed  to  disappointment,  for  by  some  hook- 
crook  or  carelessness,  quite  likely  the  latter,  on  the  part  of 
some  one,  the  order  to  move  did  not  reach  our  headquar- 
ters until  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  Sunday.  This  was 
the  signal  for  hasty  work  in  camp,  as  supper  had  to  be 
prepared  and  eaten,  cooking  utensils  and  other  parapher- 
r^alia  packed  and  loaded  on  the  wagons  before  a  start  could 
be  made.  But  all  hands  were  joined  together  in  their 
respective  spheres,  and  as  usual  proved  that  we  were  equal 
to  the  emergency,  for  by  5:15  we  were  on  the  move  to 
where,  few,  if  any,  clearly  realized.  A  tramp  of  four 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


351 


GIVING    AN    ORDER  — COL.    SWIFT    AND    CAPT.    PARKER. 


kilometers  brought  us  to  a  little  thatched  village,  at  which 
point  we  started  south  at  right  angles  to  the  road  we  had 
been  traveling,  and  on  which  we  were  now  to  continue  our 
march,  notwithstanding  it  seemed  to  be  almost  the  oppo- 
site direction  from  that  of  our  destination.  All  went  well 
except,  that  darkness  was  shutting  out  the  scenes  through 
which  we  were  passing.  Yet  this  did  not  seriously  in- 
convenience us,  as  we  had  smooth  footing  for  a  distance 
of  three  and  one-half  kilometers,  when,  as  if  by  a  kind  of 
magic,  the  macadamized  road  closed,  and  we  entered  a 
narrow  way  hedged  on  either  side  up  to  the  cart  track 
with  a  heavy  growth  of  tropical  vegetation,  the  kind,  we 


352  HISTORY    OF    THE 

could  not  determine,  only  as  we  felt  the  keen  sting  of  a 
thorn  when  we  pressed  too  far  out  in  our  narrow  confines. 
But  .this  was  pleasant  in  comparison  to  what  awaited  us 
but  a  few  hundred  yards  beyond,  where  we  entered  a  deep 
cut  which  did  not  add  anything  to  the  comfort  of  our  travel 
over  a  strange  road  in  the  dark.  These  cuts  occurred  at 
many  points  on  the  route,  it  being  what  is  called,  I  believe, 
a  sunken  military  road,  and  these  cuts  were  designed  to 
protect  men  from  the  enemy  at  exposed  points  by  lowering 
the  road  so  as  to  bring  their  heads  below  the  level  of  the 
land.  But  to  add  to  our  discomfort,  much  of  this  dismal 
route  was  very  stony,  with  deep  ruts,  while  at  other  places 
it  was  overgrown  with  rank  vegetation,  except  the  pack 
mule  track:  besides  its  winding  about  as  if  designed  to  get 
the  traveler  "  rattled  "  as  to  whether  he  was  still  going  for- 
ward or  had  taken  the  backward  trail.  About  five  miles  of 
this  dreary,  dismal  tramp  brought  us  to  another  village, 
Manangua,  where  we  struck  the  terminus  of  another  military 
pike  of  eighteen  and  one-half  kilometers  in  length,  leading  to 
Havana,  and  on  which  we  continued  about  four  kilometers, 
when  we  found  a  suitable  camping  ground,  and  very  soon 
occupied  it,  for  we  were  a  weary  set  of  men;  having 
marched  about  eighteen  or  twenty  kilometers,  and  part  of 
that  over  the  roughest  road  we  have  met  with  in  all  our  army 
experience,  and  that  in  the  short  space  of  five  hours:  going 
into  camp  about  ten  that  night.  Nothing  daunted  by  this 
Sunday's  march,  Monday  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  found 
us  with  camp  broke  and  all  packed  ready  when  the  com- 
mand to  march  was  given,  and  we  started  out  on  another 
fine  road,  with  strange  scenery  on  every  hand,  relieving 
somewhat  the  monotony,  at  least  the  weariness  of  mind, 
as  we  marked  the  usual  one  hundred  and  twenty  pace 
per  minute  toward  the  city  of  Havana,  to  which,  in  this 
part  of  the  island,  like  Rome,  "all  roads  lead." 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  353 

At  high  noon  the  band  again  struck  up  one  of  its  fami- 
liar airs,  and  we  marched  into  camp  Columbia,  saturated 
with  perspiration,  covered  with  dust  and  weary  in  body, 
having  made  about  twenty  kilometers,  mostly  under  what 
seemed  a  summer  heat  in  this  tropical  relgion. 

Among  the  funny  things  that  happened  during  this 
outing  was  the  following,  which  occurred  at  General  Doug- 
lass' Brigade  Headquarters.  Sometime  earlier  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  brigade,  some  of  the  boys  had  smuggled  a  billy 
goat  kid  into  the  camp,  not  knowing  just  how  Gen.  Doug- 
lass might  take  to  his  goatship.  But  he  very  soon  became 
the  pet  of  all  connected  with  the  General's  staff,  the 
General  included,  and  under  such  circumstances  his  goat- 
ship's  propensities  developed  quite  rapidly,  especially  his 
butting  qualities.  On  the  occasion  referred  to  Capt. 
Snyder's  (Brig.  Q.  M.)  cot  had  by  some  means  been  pushed 
against  the  wall  of  the  tent,  forcing  it  out  so  that  the  tent 
wall  rested  on  the  pillow  end,  and  which  "billy"  during 
the  day  had  discovered  in  making  his  rounds  of  the  camp; 
and  as  it  suited  his  fancy  for  a  day  snooze,  he  appro- 
priated it  for  a  bed:  quitting  it  later  in  the  day  doubtless  for 
his  evening  meal  and  a  stroll.  But  bed  time  came,  and  the 
Captain  entering  the  tent  found  his  cot  in  order  and  accord- 
ingly pushed  the  tent  wall  out  and  laid  himself  quietly  down 
among  his  companions  and  soon  was  sweetly  resting  in  the 
arms  of  Morpheus. 

Meantime  "billy"  came  back,  and  finding  changes 
had  been  made,  proceeded  to  prepare  for  his  night's  rest 
by  removing  the  unseen  intruder,  for  the  captain  was  in- 
side and  he  outside  the  tent.  Accordingly  he  applied  the 
battering-ram  of  his  artillery,  and  the  captain  was  startled 
by  the  weight  of  his  batting  capacity  as  their  heads  met, 
while  "billy"  stepped  back  to  determine  results  before  de- 
ciding on  an  increase  of  force.  The  captain,  thinking  his 

23 


354 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


next  cot  neighbor,  Captain  Hale,  had  been  getting  off  one 
of  his  tricks,  soon  came  to  a  sitting  posture  and  armed 
himself  with  one  of  his  shoes,  and  then  quietly  "laid  for 
his  man"  to  make  the  next  move,  which  he  felt  sure  would 
come  when  he  was  thought  to  have  again  found  grace  with 
Morpheus.  Just  then  "billy,"  having  concluded  that  his 
first  attack  had  driven  the  intruder  from  his  appropriated 
quarters,  placed  his  front  feet  on  the  head  of  the  cot  to  in- 
vestigate more  closely  before  proceeding  farther.  Just 
then  the  captain,  by  the  light  of  the  moon,  discovered  his 
goatship's  head  as  it  pressed  gently  against  the  canvass, 
giving  a  clear  outline  of  his  graceful  horns,  and  instantly  he 
planted  the  heel  of  his  No.  -  -  shoe  square  in  "billy's" 
face  just  above  his  eyes,  which  so  insulted  his  goatship's 
dignity — having  never  been  treated  other  than  with  the  ut- 


ON    GUARD — EARLY    MORNING. 


most  kindness  and  indulgence — that  he  quietly  sauntered 
off  to  seek  a  more  congenial  quarter,  while  the  captain 
rubbed  his  head  and  tried  to  conciliate  the  insulted  dream- 
god,  Morpheus. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  355 

This  trip  certainly  fitted  us  for  what  followed  during 
the  succeeding  days,  a  cessation  of  drills  and  dress  parades: 
a  rest  than  which  we  never  enjoyed  more.  But  this  happy 
state  of  things  was  not  to  continue  long,  for  ere  the  week 
had  run  its  course,  lest  our  joints  become  stiffened  and  our 
muscles  relaxed  from  excessive  idleness,  the  Colonel  ordered 
the  resumption  of  our  old  trade,  and  the  drill  ground  was 
again  subjected  to  a  good  tramping  every  morning,  and  its 
smoothness  tested  by  a  regimental  parade  in  the  evening, 
while  a  renewal  of  the  police  work  was  not  forgotten,  but 
if  anything,  more  systematically  and  vigorously  pushed  for- 
ward, looking  to  the  thorough  sanitation  of  our  camp.  But 
all  our  duties  were  not  confined  to  our  part  of  the  camp. 
It  remained  for  March  27,  1899,  to  reveal  the  time  when 
the  final  review  of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps  was  to  take 
place.  For  some  time  the  presence  of  General  Alger,  the 
secretary  of  war,  had  been  expected  in  Cuba.  That  time 
had  arrived,  and  so  also  had  orders  at  our  headquarters  to 
take  part  in  a  grand  review  in  his  presence  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  above  date.  Accordingly  everything  was  put  in  read- 
iness, even  to  a  clean  shave,  and  at  2:30  the  lines  were  being 
formed  for  the  march  to  the  review  ground  fully  a  mile  to 
our  southwest,  when  our  regiment  was  assigned  first  place 
in  the  order  of  review,  the  place  which  she  was  so  emi- 
nently competent  to  fill.  The  conduct  of  the  regiments  on 
this  occasion,  including  the  cavalry  and  artillery,  which 
brought  up  the  rear,  was  not  inferior  to  the  excellent  work 
done  by  the  corps  on  former  occasions,  and  when  it  is  re- 
membered that  the  corps  was  already  disintegrating,  some 
of  the  regiments  having  been  sent  to  the  states  for  muster 
out,  there  is  great  reason  for  pleasurable  recollections  of 
the  excellent  display  made  on  this  occasion.  Especially 
had  this  regiment  reason  to  be  thankful  for  its  painstaking, 
earnest  efforts  during  its  whole  history,  when  we  heard  the 


ffl 


o 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


35 


CAMP    BARBER    SHOP. 

words  of  praise  uttered  in  its  favor  by  the  highest  author- 
ities in  our  army,  as  the  following,  clipped  from  the  Paris 
Beacon,  reported  by  Ralph  Wooley,  clearly  shows: 

"A  big  review  was  held  in  honor  of  Secretary  Alger 
Monday  afternoon.  Of  course  there  are  not  many  soldiers 
here  now,  but  when  they  are  all  massed  a  good  showing 
was  made  nevertheless. 

"  After  the  Fourth  had  returned  from  the  review,  offi- 
cers' call  was  immediately  blown.  This  caused  the  soldiers  to 
think  that  orders  to  go  home  had  been  received  and  '  Illi- 
nois! Illinois!'  was  shouted  in  stentorian  tones.  There 
were  no  orders,  but  news  almost  as  pleasing  awaited  the 
officers  who  were  assembling.  When  all  had  gathered 
around  him  the  Colonel  said  in  part:  '  Today,  was  held 
probably  the  last  review  of  the  seventh  army  corps,  and  I 


358  HISTORY   OF   THE 

want  to  say  that  I  am  prouder  than  ever  of  my  excellent 
regiment,  which  made  its  usual  fine  appearance  in  to-day's 
show.  As  the  regiment  passed  the  reviewing  stand  I  over- 
heard General  Keifer  as  he  leaned  foward  in  his  saddle  and 
said  to  Secretary  Alger:  "  Mr.  Secretary,  this,  in  my  opinion, 
is  the  best  regiment  in  the  seventh  army  corps  and  always 
has  been.  "  The  secretary  readily  agreed  with  the  General, 
adding  that  he  had  been  apprised  of  this  fact  before.'  " 

At  this  late  day  lumber  for  our  flooring  was  being 
shipped  in  and  from  time  to  time  a  few  loads  were  secured 
and  the  long  desired  and  much  needed  improvement  went 
forward,  not  reaching  completion  until  the  corps  was  break- 
ing up  for  return  to  the  United  States.  The  few  last  weeks 
of  our  sojourn  in  camp  developed  nothing  new  or  startling, 
the  life  of  the  regiment  moving  on  in  a  kind  of  routine  line, 
under  which  the  men  became  restless,  even  impatient,  over 
the  long  delayed  order  for  their  departure  to  the  land  of 
their  birth  and  the  home  of  their  love.  But  like  all  things 
human  this  strain  had  its  end,  being  broken  by  the  follow- 
ing orders:  the  first  of  which  was  slow  in  getting  to  the 
rank  and  file  in  a  definite,  reliable  way,  perhaps  because  of 
its  indefiniteness  as  to  date  of  leaving,  as  its  perusal  will 
reveal. 

HAVANA,  April  i,  1899. 
To  Commanding  General,   Benna    Vista: 

The  division  commander  directs  that  the  Third  Ne- 
braska, Ninth  Illinois,  Forty-ninth  Iowa,  Sixth  Missouri 
and  Fourth  Illinois  be  prepared  to  go  to  the  states  as  soon 
as  transports  arrive,  of  which  you  will  be  duly  notified. 
These  regiments  should  have  their  records  prepared  at  once 
so  there  will  be  no  delay  in  mustering  them  out.  They 
will  go  in  the  orders  named.  The  question  of  taking  or 
leaving  tentage  will  be  decided  hereafter.  Their  spare 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  359 

ordnance  and  ammunition  should  be  turned  in  at  once,  and 
property  responsibility  settled  so  that  there  may  be  no  con- 
fusion when  it  is  decided  they  should  start. 
[Signed,] 

RICHARDS, 
Adjutant-General. 
O.   C.    196. 

By  this  it  will  be  seen  the  date  of  departure  is  not 
given,  and  the  order  of  removal  put  the  Fourth  Illinois  at 
the  last  in  the  list  of  these  regiments,  to  lift  its  gentle  feet 
from  the  soil  of  Cuba.  But  later  developments  show  that 
this  privilege,  for  some  reason,  was  at  last  denied  us,  as 
Colonel  Swift  predicted  it  would  be  soon  after  the  order 
came  to  hand;  since  he  knew,  as  no  other  man  in  the  regi- 
ment, the  wires  that  were  being  pulled  to  give  that  distinc- 
tion to  another  regiment,  and  it  is  certain  Egypt  got  the 
glory.  But  the  mental  tension  left  by  the  former  order, 
was  not  to  continue  many  days,  as  is  seen  in  the  following 
order  which  reached  our  camp  about  I  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon of  its  date,  and  was  soon  the  public  property  of  the 
regiment. 

HEADQUARTERS  DIVISION  OF  CUBA, 
HAVANA,  CUBA,  April  3,  1899. 

Major-General  Lee,  Commanding  Department  Province  of 
Havana : 

GENERAL — The  major-general  commanding  directs  me 
to  send,  for  your  information  and  guidance,  the  following 
extract  of  telegram  received  last  night: 

"The  first  eight  regiments  (meaning  the  Third  Ken- 
tucky, Department  Matanzas;  the  Third  Nebraska,  Ninth 
Illinois,  Forty-ninth  Iowa,  Sixth  Missouri,  Fourth  Illinois, 
your  department;  and  the  Thirty-first  Michigan  and  Sixth 
Ohio,  department  Santa  Clara)  named  in  your  cablegram 


360  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  April  ist,  to  come  out  of  Cuba,  have  been  assigned  to 
ships  as  indicated  in  cablegram  to  you  of  April  ist.  The 
assignments  are  as  follows: 

"Third  Nebraska,  Thomas;  Ninth  Illinois,  Dixie; 
Forty-ninth  Iowa,  San  Antonio  and  Vigilancia;  Sixth  Mis- 
souri, Seneca;  Fourth  Illinois,  Plant  System,  Yarmouth, 
Olivette  and  Whitney. 

"  Rut  it  may  not  be  possible  to  have  these  vessels  to 
arrive  in  the  order  in  which  you  have  designated  regiments 
to  return  to  the  United  States.  For  instance,  two  ships 
to  carry  the  Fourth  Illinois  will  be  in  Havana  April  3rd. 
It  is  desired  that  vessels  which  have  been  assigned  to  par- 
ticular regiments  shall  bring  those  regiments  out  as  indi- 
cated, and  to  such  points  as  they  will  be  directed  before 
vessels  leave  Cuban  ports.  It  will  be  necessary  that 
adjutant-general  be  notified  well  in  advance  of  date  vessel 
will  be  ready  to  sail,  so  that  you  can  receive  instructions  to 
what  quarantine  stations  ship  is  to  go,  after  conference 
here  with  the  marine  hospital  service. 

'  •  These  regiments  will  bring  with  them  necessary 
tentage,  cots,  cooking  utensils  and  ten  days'  rations,  so  that 
they  can  go  into  camp  at  quarantine  station  where  ordered. 
If  necessary,  tentage  brought  with  them  can  be  left  stand- 
ing at  quarantine,  and,  after  baggage  is  disinfected,  vessel 
may  proceed  with  regiment  to  final  point  of  debarkation. 

"The  surgeon-general  marine  hospital  service  insists 
that  there  shall  be  no  mattresses  for  officers  or  men  brought 
along,  and  it  is  so  ordered.  Records  should  not  be  packed 
with  clothing,  but  should  be  available  for  work  during 
quarantine  detention. 

"Colonel  Ballinger  is  arranging  for  these  camps,  and 
desires  that  no  troops  start  before  April  5th.  It  is  import- 
ant that  you  report  what  parts  of  regiments  are  on  different 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  361 

ships,    so    that   they  will   be   ordered    to  go  to  the  same 
quarantine  station. 

"By  order  Assistant  Secretary  of  War, 

"CORBIN." 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
[Signed]  W.  V.  RICHARDS, 

Adjutant-General. 

This,  coupled  with  the  fact  that  the  paymaster  was 
hurried  into  our  camp  late  that  afternoon  to  gladden  our 
hearts  by  replenishing  our  depleted  spelters  and  purses 
with  the  "root  of  all  evil,"  that  we  might  be  able  to  secure 
something  for  the  satisfying  of  the  inner  man  while  on  the 
journey,  in  case  we  did  not  fall  on  some  "  lone  isle  "  where 
these  things  could  not  be  purchased  for  love  or  money;  all 
tended  to  confirm  the  convictions  in  every  heart  that  our 
days  in  Cuba  were  assuredly  numbered,  and  would  be 
speedily  realized.  Accordingly,  every  man  in  camp  began 
the  task  of  putting  their  souvenirs  and  relics  (the  larger 
part  of  their  baggage)  in  shape  for  transportation,  while  the 
men  that  had  been  waiting  for  an  opportune  time  to  make 
his  purchases  in  this  line,  hastened  to  the  city  under  the 
protection  of  a  pass,  or  otherwise,  if  too  timid  to  attempt 
the  procuring  of  one.  Still  night  settled  down  upon  us 
with  no  further  omen  as  to  the  hour  or  date  of  departure; 
and  at  the  usual  hour,  at  least  for  pay  day,  which  was 
always  a  little  later  than  on  ordinary  days,  the  camp  took 
on  its  usual  quiet,  when  slumber  closes  the  eyes  and  stills 
the  mouth  (except  when  he  snores)  of  the  otherwise  persis- 
tent grumbler  and  kicker.  But  scarce  had  the  wee  hours 
of  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  April  begun  their  stealthy  ap- 
proach, when  an  orderly  from  corps  headquarters,  treading 
rapidly  on  the  threshhold  of  the  exit  door  at  i  o'clock  A. 
M.,  .halted  in  front  of  the  colonel's  tent  and  gave  the  usual 


362  HISTORY    OF    THE 

signal  of  the  caller  at  a  tent  door;  that  is,  a  few  vigor- 
ous applications  of  the  finger-nails  on  the  front  of  your 
canvas  home,  similar  to  those  so  commonly  applied  to  the 
parts  of  the  body  in  easy  reach,  when  a  big  Cuban  hopper, 
called  a  flea,  makes  application  for  a  sample  of  your  pre- 
cious life  fluid.  The  signal  being  answered  by  the  colonel,  a 
paper  was  placed  in  his  hand,  which  was  at  once  passed  to 
Captain  Parker,  the  adjutant  occupying  the  next  tent,  who 
was  soon  on  the  headquarters  street  visiting  the  officers 
concerned  and  the  leader  of  the  band,  to  whom  the  follow- 
ing was  communicated: 

HEADQUARTERS  DIVISION  OF  CUBA, 

HAVANA,  April  4,  1899. 
Commanding  General,   Buena    Vista  : 

Send  in  at  once  headquarters  and  three  companies 
Fourth  Illinois  to  go  on  Whitney,  and  five  companies  to  go 
on  Yarmouth,  the  remaining  four  companies  will  go  on 
Yarmouth  Friday  next.  Telegraph  when  troops  may  be 
expected  at  wharf. 

By  Command  of  Major-General  Brooke. 
[Signed.]  RICHARDS, 

Adjutant  General. 
O.  C.  204. 

HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH  ARMY  CORPS,  "] 

CAMP  COLUMBIA.      '}• 

HAVANA,  CUBA,  April  4,  1899.  J 

Official  copy  respectfully  furnished  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  Fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  for  com- 
pliance and  immediate  report. 

By  Command  of  Major-General  Lee. 


Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  363 

This  called  out  a  genuine  camp  shout  from  the  quar- 
ters of  the  band  and  certain  other  tents  in  this  part  of 
camp,  while  active  operations  began,  looking  to  compliance 
with  the  order.  At  6  in  the  morning  the  long  wagon 
train  began  to  centralize  about  headquarters,  awaiting  or- 
ders as  to  their  disposition,  for  which  they  did  not  have  to 
wait  long,  and  by  9  o'clock  Companies  L,  F,  D  and  C, 
forming  the  first  battalion,  under  Maj.  L.  E.  Bennet,  had 
tents  down  and  rolled,  all  stores  packed, and  the  same  load- 
ed on  the  wagons  assigned  to  them.  While  all  the  im- 
provised tables,  benches  and  discarded  articles  were  piled 
in  heaps  and  committed  to  the  flames,  which  did  their 
work  thorougly,  this  being  the  last  act  of  our  sanitation, 
leaving  only  the  floors  and  a  clean  camp  for  the  next  regi- 
ment, if  any  should  be  so  fortunate  as  to  locate  here.  And 
soon  the  regiment  was  broken  by  this  detachment  moving 
out  from  them,  leaving  the  beautiful  camp  with  all  its  his- 
tories, to  be  seen  again  perhaps,  only  in  the  archives  and 
picture  galleries  of  our  memories. 

While  it  was  not  a  sad  parting  as  when  we  bid  the  last 
good  bye  to  loved  ones  and  friends,  turning  our  backs 
upon  the  homes  of  our  childhood  near  one  year  previous, 
when  we  started  out  with  bouyant  hopes  that  it  would  be 
ours  to  strike  a  blow  in  the  liberating  of  the  people  of  this 
island,  in  which  we  have  been  merely  sojourners  for  three 
months:  spending  the  most  delightfully  pleasant  winter  we 
ever  experienced,  thus  escaping  the  severest  of  weather  in 
our  native  state.  To  the  music  of  our  excellent  band  the 
agile  feet  of  some  three  hundred  men  were  keeping  time, 
measuring  off  the  regulation  pace;  as  they  passed  out  the 
north  entrance  of  our  camp  into  the  road  leading  to  Ha- 
vana, retracing  the  steps  that  brought  them  from  thence 
through  the  then  strange  scenery  of  a  land  whose  customs 
and  habits  bore  so  distinctly  the  marks  of  antiquity.  By 


364  HISTORY    OF    THE 

eleven  in  the  morning  we  had  entered  the  San  Jose  wharf 
shed,  when  we  rested,  lunched  and  waited  while  the  Cuban 
warehouse  force  were  busily  unloading  our  goods  and  trans- 
ferring them  to  the  Plant  System  steamer  Whitney,  which 
lay  at  anchor  in  the  bay  near  the  wreck  of  the  Maine. 
About  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  members  of  the  staff 
present,  the  band  and  companies  L,  F  and  D  boarded  a 
United  States  tug  and  were  steamed  out  to  the  Whitney 
and  went  aboard  to  await  her  readiness  for  the  start  on  her 
voyage.  Here  for  the  first  time  the  full  import  or  rather 
the  full  text  of  the  early  morning  orders  began  to  dawn  upon 
the  minds  of  most  of  us  in  this  battalion,  when  Company 
C  was  "turned  down"  at  this  point  or  detached  from  the 
battalion  to  make  a  period  of  its  history  in  connection  with 
the  second  battalion,  which  was  just  marching  into  the 
dock  sheds  as  we  were  vacating  them. 

The  Whitney  is  of  medium  size,  a  sidewheeler,  with 
lower  and  upper  decks,  on  the  latter  of  which,  amidship  is 
located  the  state  rooms,  saloon  or  dining  room,  kitchen, 
offices  and  store  rooms  with  pilot  house  still  above. 

The  law's  of  our  ports  require  all  vessels  landing  at 
other  ports  to  leave  the  harbor  before  sunset,  which  time 
was  rapidly  creeping  upon  up,  as  the  rich  tints  of  gold,  crim- 
son and  blue  began  to  blend  in  the  western  sky,  while  they 
deepened  and  changed  behind  the  fleecy  clouds  that  skimmed 
along  the  horizon,  seemingly  bathing  their  wings  in  the 
gentle  rolling  waves  of  the  ocean,  where  like  a  timid  child, 
it  would  hide  itself  from  the  searching  gaze  of  the  onlooker. 
Still  while  the  time  for  our  departure  had  drawn  near  $n 
important  part  of  our  cargo,  that  is  our  commissary  stores, 
were  not  yet  loaded  and  the  vessel  bringing  it  from  the 
dock  was  not  in  sight.  But  our  ship's  captain  evidently 
had  been  there  before,  hence  ready  for  the  emergency  that 
was  upon  us.  Presently  a  peculiar  quivering  of  the  ship 


o 


366  HISTORY    OF    THE 

was  felt,  while  a  screaking,  cracking  noise  came  from  the 
hull  of  the  vessel,  which  informed  those  familiar  with  it, 
that  the  anchor  was  being  raised.  Immediately  following, 
the  great  paddles  on  the  wheels  at  her  sides  began  to  move 
gently,  as  if  fearful  of  disturbing  the  quiet  of  the  murky 
filthy  water  of  this  bay;  while  the  old  ship  stood  still  as  if 
defying  the  action  of  her  machinery  and  power  of  steam. 
But  while  these  seeming  pretenses  to  a  movement  from  the 
harbor  were  being  enacted,  a  large  tug  came  around  the 
vessels  along  the  west  shore  with  a  speed  that  sent  the 
waves  rolling  to  port  and  starboard  as  her  prow  divided  the 
waters  before  her,  she  rounded  aft  our  ship  and  made 
herself  fast  to  our  bow.  At  once  strong  hands  began  the 
work  of  transferring  her  cargo,  which  proved  to  be  the 
rations  for  our  trip,  into  the  hold  of  the  Whitney. 

By  this  time  the  objects  on  shore  clearly  revealed  that 
we  were  on  the  move,  for  the  great  engines  on  our  boat 
were  breathing  more  heavily  and  the  wheels  were  churning 
the  waters  of  the  narrow  doorway  of  this  almost  rock  bound 
harbor,  while  the  sun  still  hung  a  little  distance  above  the 
ocean  horizon. 

We  had  been  on  the  dreary  waste  of  ocean,  which 
stretched  far  out  before  us,  but  a  short  time,  when  from 
old  Moro's  tower  flashed  out  her  brilliant  light,  while  for 
miles  along  the  shore  west  of  the  bay  the  electric  lights  of 
Havana  city  flashed  and  sparkled  like  a  long  row  of  dia- 
monds set  at  irregular  intervals.  The  sight  was  one  not  to 
be  produced  in  pen  picture  or  easily  erased  from  the  sensi- 
tive plates  of  memory.  Thus  while  our  approach  to  this 
quaint  old  city,  about  which  clusters  so  much  history,  was 
so  impressive,  not  less  was  that  of  our  departure. 

*  The  evening  shades  had  scarcely  deepened  into  night, 
before  we  began  to  have  that  peculiar  funny  feeling  that 
comes  to  one  when  the  car  of  an  elevator  starts  down  with 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  367 

a  rush,  and  there  seems  to  be  something  just  back  of  and 
below  the  sternum,  that  had  not  weight  enough  about  it  to 
keep  pace  with  the  heavier  portions  of  the  body,  and  you 
find  yourself  making  involuntary  efforts  to  swallow  some- 
thing that  persists  in  seeking  the  light.  But  this  one  great 
difference  is  noticeable,  that  in  the  one  case  you  succeed 
and  in  the  other  you  don't,  as  was  evidenced  on  this  occa- 
sion, and  especially  while  crossing  the  gulf  stream;  for  some 
of  the  boys  declare,  they  "threw  up  everything  but  their 
job  in  the  army."  This  condition  of  things  continued 
through  the  greater  part  of  Wednesday,  the  sea  calming 
somewhat  as  the  day  wore  wearily  toward  its  close,  and  we 
entered  upon  a  more  peaceful  night  to  enjoy  the  sweets 
with  which  the  dream  god  regales  his  votaries.  Wednes- 
day morning  early,  found  some  of  us  astir,  anxiously  looking 
like  Noah's  dove,  for  a  place,  even  some  lonely  island, 
whereupon  to  set  our  feet.  And  as  the  light  brushed  back 
the  gray  dawn  toward  the  west,  the  low  sand  beach  of  the 
keys  about  the  bay  of  Tampa  became  visible  and  after  an* 
hour's  easy  sailing,  we  could  see  quite  clearly  the  buildings 
and  docks  of  the  state  quarantine  station  on  Mullet  Key  in 
front,  while  to  our  left,  was  the  light  house  and  government 
quarantine  station  on  Egmont  Key.  Between  us  and 
Egmont  was  a  large  vessel  with  her  hull  dressed  in  black, 
and  her  decks  crowded  with  what  seemed  to  be  human  be- 
ings, which  as  we  drew  nearer  proved  to  be  the  Second  Bat- 
talion of  our  regiment,  whom  we  left  on  the  docks  at 
Havana.  Through  the  fleetness  of  their  ship,  as  we  learned 
later,  they  were  brought  into  the  placid  waters  of  Tampa 
bay  twelve  hours  ahead  of  us,  having  gained  sixteen  hours 
on  the  Whitney,  which,  had  it  not  been  for  the  chagrin  we 
felt  at  creeping  in,  as  if  we  had  been  belated,  as  the  boys 
sometimes  were  after  visiting  the  city,  we  certainly  would 
have  cheered  the  gallant  Yarmouth  more  enthusiastically. 


368  HISTORY    OF    THE 

For  certainly  we  were  ready  to  vote  that  the  most  unpleas- 
ant feature  about  our  boat  as  a  transport  for  soldiers,  or 
even  perhaps  for  cattle,  was  her  lack  of  speed.  Besides 
the  rougher  the  sea,  the  slower  she  goes,  since  her  wheels 
lost  most  of  their  utility  by  being  partly  or  wholly  out  of 
the  water. 

After  reporting  at  the  state  quarantine  office  we  drifted 
about  aimlessly  in  the  bay  for  some  time,  until  a  health 
officer  from  the  government  station  came  out  to  learn  our 
condition  and  arranged  for  us  to  disembark.  Accordingly 
about  9:30  a  lighter  was  pushed  along  side  of  us  and 
the  work  of  unloading  began,  and  continued  throughout 
the  day  and  into  the  night,  having  removed  the  men  from 
the  Whitney  about  sundown  and  the  last  from  the  Yar- 
mouth after  dark.  Once  on  Egmont  Key  and  we  began 
to  get  some  idea  of  what  the  term  "disinfect"  means 
when  applied  to  soldiers  and  their  belongings  in  a  quaran- 
tine station.  As  the  soldiers  passed  one  of  the  buildings 
they  were  required  to  surrender  their  entire  pack,  except 
guns,  the  whole  of  which  was  placed  in  an  immense  cast- 
iron  boiler  shaped  vessel,  and  sealed  up  steam  tight,  while 
the  boiling  steam  was  forced  through  them  for  two  or  three 
hours.  You  can  imagine  what  the  straps  on  their  haver- 
sacks, leather  grips,  gloves  etc.,  were  like,  passing  through 
this  ordeal,  while  our  trunks,  boxes  and  hand  baggage 
were  all  opened  by  us  or  by  the  fumigating  force  in  such 
a  way  as  came  most  easily  to  their  hand,  the  contents 
partly  removed  or  raised  up  and  a  decoction  that  smelled 
like,  well,  after  the  first  whiff  you  quit  smelling  it  if  you 
could,  for  it  would  take  your  breath,  or  make  you  think 
you.  were  getting  sea  sick.  Nor  would  you  be  at  all  sur- 
prised that  such  a  compound  would  destroy  the  life  of  any 
germ,  having  as  it  had  in  such  great  degree  the  "get 
there  "  penetrating  qualities  that  would  search  them  out 


JO 

c 


37°  HISTORY    OF    THE 

in  the  very  fibre  of  the  wood,  and  the  power  that  would 
take  the  life  it  had  thus  sought  out.  With  this  fluid,  harm- 
less to  anything  but  yellow  silk  and  germs,  they  sprinkled 
pretty  freely,  as  some  of  us  discovered  to  our  regret,  four 
or  five  days  later,  then  closed  our  trunks  or  boxes  and 
with  strips  of  paper  sealed  up  the  opening  and  around 
the  lids,  placing  them  by  the  hundred  in  a  tight  room  and 
leaving  them  to  their  fate,  that  is,  the  germs.  This  latter 
process  being  harmless  in  itself  to  any  fabric,  the  long 
delay  before  we  could  open  and  dry  our  garments,  etc. , 
caused  mildew,  but  the  steam  process  got  away  with 
things  generally,  so  far  as  future  utility  or  beauty  was 
concerned.  While  all  this  was  going  on  the  boys  were 
roaving,  but  not  to  their  hearts'  content,  over  the  white 
sand,  of  which  this  island  seems  principally  to  be  com- 
posed, in  a  corral  of  some  ten  acres,  surrounded  by  a  high 
wire  fence  that  reminded  one  of  Weyler's  trochas  in  Cuba; 
beyond  which,  if  one  did,  soldier  like,  make  his  escape,  he 
was  likely  to  get  a  dose  of  fine  shot  from  the  muzzle  of  a  gun 
made  to  shoot  that  kind  of  missiles,  in  the  hands  of  a  civil- 
ian guard,  or  have  the  exquisite  pleasure  of  remaining  in 
quarantine  for  another  ten  days,  and  perhaps  cause  all  the 
rest  of  us  to  experience  the  same  undesirable  pleasure.  To 
say  these  restraints  were  chafing  to  men  who  had  antici- 
pated the  glorious  privilege  of  roaving  this  farm  of  Uncle 
Sam's  of  one-half  by  one  mile  in  size  and  gathering  the 
shells  of  the  briny  deep,  is  to  state  it  very  tamely  indeed. 

But  the  three  days  and  four  nights  over,  joyfully  the 
entire  lot  of  us,  baggage  and  all,  crowded  upon  the  little 
Margaret,  where  we  found  little  more  than  standing  room. 
A  three  and  a-half  hours  ride  up  the  bay  brought  us  to  Port 
Tampa,  where  we  again  became  detached 'bodies,  forming 
three  sections  of  a  train  which  supposedly  pulled  out  for  Sa- 
vannah, Georgia.  But  to  our  surprise  we  found  ourselves 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


371 


TRANSPORT    MARGARET. 

brought  together  again  the  following  day  about  3:00  in  the 
afternoon  on  a  siding  four  miles  west  of  Augusta,  Georgia, 
from  whence  we  marched  into  camp  MacKenzie,  one  mile 
distant,  to  find  tents,  mess  shacks,  and  all  other  camp 
conveniences,  even  to  electric  lights  on  our  streets.  Here- 
after eight  days  of  camp  life  with  morning  drills  cut  off, 
but  added  vigorously  to  the  evening  dress  parade,  we  were 
again  joined  by  our  companions  of  the  third  battalion  who 
had  passed  over  the  same  line  but  with  added  unpleasant- 
ness. Thus  camp  life  was  again  upon  us  in  all  its  features 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  373 

of  routine,  pleasant  and  otherwise,  but  with  a  fixed  time 
for  its  culmination,  that  is,  May  second.  As  a  preparatory 
to  this,  all  books  and  accounts  must  be  balanced  and 
closed  up,  in  order  to  the  accomplishment  of  which  a  large 
increase  in  the  clerical  force  was  made  in  every  company, 
and  other  offices;  while  the  boards  of  survey  must  account 
for  the  shortage  in  expendible  and  non-expendible  prop- 
erty of  the  Government,  for  the  very  exigencies  in  the 
movement  of  the  army  put  it  beyond  the  hope  of  any 
other  fair  or  honorable  solution.  Besides  this  physical  ex- 
amination must  be  passed  through  again,  to  determine  the 
possibility  of  pension  claims  from  physical  disabilities 
incurred  in  the  line  of  military  duty.  While  muster  out  rolls 
and  discharges,  all  found  their  places  in  the  short  allotted 
time. 

A  week  previous  to  mustering  out  the  boys  were 
ordered  to  turn  in  to  the  captains  of  their  respective  com- 
panies their  knapsacks,  haversacks,  canteens  and  eating 
utensils,  which  looked  as  though  they  might  get  to  eat  at 
a  table  otherwise  spread.  But  instead  they  only  had  them 
reissued  at  each  meal  and  then  returned  again. 

On  April  2/th  they  began  turning  in  their  weapons  of 
warfare  at  the  Augusta  arsenal.  Immediately  after  guard- 
mount,  at  8:30  in  the  morning  on  the  following  date,  our 
band  was  ordered  to  turn  in  its  instruments  also,  a  mat- 
ter of  regret  to  most  of  the  command,  since  it  so  greatly 
changed  the  conditions  in  camp,  cutting  off,  the  enliven- 
ing and  cheery  music  to  which  we  had  become  so  famil- 
iar and  had  learned  to  appreciate  so  highly.  Thus  every 
phase  of  camp  life  took  on  a  changed  appearance,  which 
continued  with  but  slight  variation  until  we  lined  up, 
company  after  company,  and  passed  through  the  very 
delightful  part  of  our  army  program,  the  muster  out.  It 
was  during  our  stay  at^Camp  MacKenzie  the  very  important 


374  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  responsible  duties  of  provost  marshal  were  laid  upon 
the  sturdy  shoulder  of  our  worthy  colonel.  Swift,  by  whom, 
it  can  easily  be  guessed,  the  work  was  well  and  faithfully 
done;  for  a  detail  of  the  choicest  men  of  his  own  regiment 
were  placed  in  the  city  to  execute  his  orders.  Thus  the 
time -wore  wearily  on  to  the  2nd  day  of  May,  1899,  when 
the  joy  that  had  been  warming  in  the  hearts  of  the  boys  for 
several  days,  seemed  to  reach  the  boiling  point,  and  they 
fairly  boiled  over  at  times,  as  one  by  one  the  companies 
were  mustered  out,  and  once  more  citizens,  or  milder, 
civilians  of  the  United  States.  With  all  the  disadvantages 
through  which  this  regiment  was  called  to  pass,  from  its 
call  to  arms  as  state  militia  on  the  26th  day  of  April,  1898, 
it  has  nevertheless  made  for  itself  a  record  of  high  order, 
both  as  to  its  discipline,  ability  in  tactics  on  all  lines  of 
duty,  as  well  as  on  the  march.  It  is  therefore  with  pleas- 
ure and  gratitude  we  remind  the  reader  that  the  Fourth 
regiment  has  in  no  way  lowered  the  good  name  of  our 
state,  whose  sons  have  proven  by  the  numbers  that  have 
rushed  to  arms  in  defense  of  the  honor  of  the  stars  and 
stripes  in  two  wars  in  less  than  half  a  century,  with  a 
loyalty  and  patriotism  that  has  not  been  excelled  by  any 
state  in  the  Union.  In  both  these  wars  she  has  cheerfully 
aided  sister  states  in  the  making  up  of  their  quota  of  men. 
And  while  it  was  not  their  privilege  to  enter  the  field  of 
actual  conflict  and  face  a  defiant  enemy,  the  fact  that  they 
chafed  under  the  circumstances  and  restraints  that  held 
them  back  from  it,  is  full  proof  of  their  willingness  and 
earnest  desire  to  demonstrate  to  the  enemy  that  were  a 
"  foe  equal  to  his  steel."  Nor  would  the  opportunity  have 
revealed  in  them  anything  less  than  a  courage  commen- 
surate with  their  desire.  Neither  has  this  regiment  on  any 
occasion  had  to  take  the  back  seat  in  the  corps,  when 


FOURTH   ILLINOIS.  375 

battle  tactics  were  to  be  exhibited,  dress  parades  and 
reviews  participated  in,  or  a  heavy  march  executed. 

The  success  that  has  attended  it  in  all  its  varied  du- 
ties and  relations,  calling  out,  as  it  has,  the  highest  ap- 
proval of  those  well  fitted  to  judge  of  merit  as  well  as  ef- 
fort, is  not  due  to  the  diligence  and  efficiency  of  a  few  in  its 
composite,  but  rests  on  the  fact,  that  from  the  private  in 
the  ranks  to  the  colonel  at  its  head,  there  were,  in  no  small 
numbers,  men  who  were  ready  to,  and  did  perform  their 
duty  promptly,  energetically  and  faithfully.  These  are  the 
facts  that  have  led  up  to  so  many  commendable  statements 
like  the  following  from  President  McKinley,  who  was 
moved  to  say  as  it  passed  in  review  before  him:  "  It  is  the 
best  volunteer  regiment  I  ever  saw." 

In  saying  what  we  have,  it  was  not  to  imply  that  there 
were  no  other  regiments  of  true  merit  in  this  army  corps, 
nor  would  we  attempt  to  dim  their  just  glory.  But  as  they 
have  made  their  own  history,  we  leave  it  to  them  to  pub- 
lish it.  For  we  believe  it  was  an  army  of  picked  men, 
chosen  for  the  most  arduous  task  that  confronted  the  nation 
in  its  conflict  with  Spain  in  Cuba,  as  the  following  clipping 
will  reveal: 

"  HAVANA,  April  17. — The  last  general  order  issued  by 
Fitzhugh  Lee  to  his  command,  the  Seventh  Army  Corps, 
is  in  part  as  follows: 

"An  order  has  been  received  which  moves  the  last 
regiment  of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps  across  the  sea  to  be 
mustered  out,  and  the  ranks  of  the  organization  will  be 
forever  broken.  The  record  made  by  the  officers  and  the 
men  will  forever  be  preserved  on  the  pages  of  military  his- 
tory. No  troops  won  greater  reputation  for  discipline, 
drill,  manly  discharge  of  duty,  soldierly  conduct,  and  cheer- 
ful obedience  to  orders. 

"The   president's  assurance   that   had  the    war  with 


376 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Spain  continued  the  Seventh  Army  Corps  would  have  been 
selected  to  lead  the  assault  on  the  Havana  lines,  proves 
that  the  corps  possessed  the  confidence  of  the  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  army  and  navy,  a  confidence  shared  by  his 
fellow  countrymen. 

"  It  is  gratifying,  in  reviewing  the  career  of  the  corps, 
to  remember  the  harmony  which  existed  among  the  40,- 
ooo  soldiers  who  answered  the  roll  call  at  Tampa,  Jackson- 
ville, Savannah  and  Cuba.  Whether  volunteer  soldiers  of 
the  North  or  South,  they  took  the  sunshine  and  the  storm 
of  camp  together,  and  marched  side  by  side  under  one  flag, 
one  cause,  one  country." 

It  was  certainly  an  army  of  men,  at  the  mention  of 
whose  names  its  honored  and  worthy  commander  would 
have  no  reason  to  blush  or  offer  an  apology. 


NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    OF    COMPANY    G. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


377 


By  unforseen  causes,  some  cuts  were  not  inserted  at 
their  proper  places  in  the  body  of  the  book,  hence  they 
are  placed  elsewhere  in  the  work. 


N*ON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    OF    COMPANY    F. 


378  HISTORY    OF    THE 

We  here  give  a  few  poems  referring  to  our  worthy 
regiment. 

WARNING  TO  ILLINOIS  GIRLS. 

[BY  A    SAVANNAH,   GEORGIA,   GIRL.] 

Listen  young  ladies*  of  Illinois 

To  a  story  I'll  tell  of  your  charming  boys 

Who  came  to  our  city  in  '98 

To  guard  its  citizens  early  and  late. 

They  guarded  our  town,  and  captured  the  hearts 
Of  Maids  and  matrons  down  in  these  parts, 
By  their  pluck  and  zeal,  and  manly  ways, 
And  well  the  Fourth  deserves  the  praise. 

How  well  they  marched  on  the  grand  review, 
So  well,  indeed,  that  the  president,  too, 
Said  to  their  colonel,  standing  near, 
'Tis  the  best  drilled  regiment  passed  by  here. 

And  oh,  how  we  cheered  our  boys  that  day; 
And  oh,  how  we  wept,  when  they  sailed  away, 
While  since  they  are  gone  our  girls  are  blue, 
And  talk  of  going  to  Cuba,  too. 

And  indeed  we'll  go,  if  we  hear  again 
That  girls  up  north   are  threatening  them 
With  dangers  worse  than  Spanish  foes. 
We'll  go  to  Cuba  to  sooth  their  woes. 

We'll  bring  them  back  to  our  city  fair, 
Then  every  day'll  be  "Thanksgiving"  here; 
And  we'll  be  so  kind,  and  good,  and  true 
They'll  never  go  back  again  to  you. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  379 

Now  think  of  the  boys  you'd  make  exiles, 
Delightedly  basking  in  southern  smiles. 
First  Willie  McKnight,  a  charming  lad, 
Next  in  the  procession  then  comes  Dad. 

And  after  him  comes  trooping  others, — 
Rolla  and  Babe,  and  Kincade  brothers; 
And  right  in  line  is  our  bonnie  son  Beam, 
And  all  the  men  on  the  foot  ball  team. 

There's  many  more  I  might  mention  yet, 
Of  the  gallant  Fourth,  whom  our  girls  have  met; 
Whom  the  girls  all  love,  esteem  and  admire, 
To  sing  their  praises  we  never  tire. 

But  suffice  it  now,  and  listen  well, 
For  this  is  a  secret  I'm  going  tell, 
The  boys  to  their  girls  up  north  are  true; 
So  don't  get  huffy,  cross  nor  blue. 

Don't  threaten  the  lads  with  ire  and  wrath, 
Lest  Savannah  girls  may  stand  in  your  path, 
To  protect  the  Fourth  with  their  lives  they  would, 
The  Fourth,  so  brave,  so  true  and  good. 

L. 

The  above  was  written  by  a  lady  of  Savannah,  Geor- 
gia, about  the  date  of  the  departure  of  the  regiment  for 
Cuba. 

Having  failed  to  secure  the  first  poem  written  in  reply 
to  the  foregoing,  we  give  the  second,  and  the  final  reply 
from  the  South. 


380  HISTORY   OF    THE 

OUR  DEFENSE. 

(A  northern  girl's  reply  to  a  southern  girl's  poem.) 

The  girls  of  the  north-land, 
The  "Illinois  Fourth  land," 

Beg  favor  to  rise  and  remark 
That  the  girl  of  the  south-land, 
The  cotton  and  drouth  land, 

Seems  floundering  'round  in  the  dark. 
With  thanks  for  her  questions, 
Advice  and  suggestions, 

We  feel  it  our  duty,  you  know, 
To  inform  her  politely, 
Though  plainly  and  tritely, 

We  can  manage  to  "hoe  our  own  row." 

We've  short  girls  and  tall  girls, 
And  big  girls  and  small  girls, 

And  girls  of  all  sizes  between; 
We've  maidens  contrary-like, 
Girls  literary-like, 

Witching  girls,  girls  like  a  queen. 
We  have  fickle  girls,  faithful  girls, 
Awkward  girls,  graceful  girls. 

Girls  who  old  stockings  will  mend; 
We  have  homely  and  pretty  girls, 
Dull  girls  and  witty  girls, 

Girls  who  a  fortune  would  spend. 

We've  girls  with  true  eyes, 
Sweet,  innocent,  blue  eyes — 

With  eyes  that  are  earnest  and  brown — 
With  eyes,  softly  yellow, 
That  vanquish  a  fellow, 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  381 

Glancing  upward,  then  witchingly  down. 
Our  sweet,  gracious  actions, 
Our  countless  attractions 

Make  us  fair  in  our  brave  soldiers'  eyes, 
And  few  girls  of  Savannah, 
In  way,  shape  or  "  manneh  " 

Can  rival  the  beauty  they  prize. 

I 

We  need  not  to  worry, 
To  fret  or  to  flurry, 

Or  cause  ourselves  useless  alarms. 
All  gossip  we  hear  not, 
All  rivals  we  fear  not, 

For  we  are  secure  in  our  charms. 
In  this  we're  confiding, 
With  faith  strong,  abiding, 

That  no  matter  where  they  may  roam, 
Our  boys  will  not  tarry 
Away  when  they  marry, 

But  will  find  their  ideals  at  home. 

We  would  not  be  selfish, 
Or  impish,  or  elfish, 

We're  willing,  in  justice,  to  share 
Thegirl  of  the  south  land, 
The  cotton  and  drouth  land, 

May  have  those  for  whom  we  don't  care; 
But  the  girl  of  the  north-land, 
The  Illinois  Fourth  land, 

Is  queen  of  her  own  special  throne, 
And  she'll  keep  not  a  part  of, 
But  just  the  whole  heart  of 

Her  hero  in  "  Illinois'  Own." 

Mattoon,  111.,  May  13,  1899. 


382  HISTORY   OF    THE 

•  Some  time,  just  before  the  Fourth  Illinois  left  Savan- 
nah for  Cuba,  one  of  the  literary  young  ladies  of  that  city 
wrote  and  forwarded  to  The  Gazette  a  poem  with  our 
young  soldiers  as  the  subject.  The  above  is  an  answer,  by 
a  Mattoon  lady,  to  the  verse  which  said: 

Don't  threaten  the  lads  with  ire  and  wrath 
Lest  Savannah  girls  may  stand  in  your  path. 
We'll  bring  them  back  to  our  city,  fair, 
Then  every  day'll  be  Thanksgiving,  here. 

Mattoon  Gazette,  May  26,  1899. 


SAVANNAH  GIRL. 

Again  I  bob  up  with  a  few  modest  rhyms, 
In  answer  to  Mattoon's  most  elegant  lines, 
To  say  that  our  girls  refuse  to  be  crushed, 
Nor  yet  to  the  wall  will  they  ever  be  pushed. 

We  too  have  our  girls,  so  bonnie  and  sweet, 
Whom  the  Fourth  Illinois  were  delighted  to  meet; 
Who  can  make  up  the  beds,  or  sweep  off  the  hearth, 
Who  lighten  their  labors  with  singing  and  mirth. 

Who  can  cook  a  square  meal,   that  your  boys  often 

shared, 

When  out  at  Camp  Onward  so  badly  they  fared. 
Good  wives  they'll  make  in  the  years  as  the  come — 
Fond,  loving  mothers  and  heaven  of  home. 

I've  no  doubt  you're  all  your  fancy  doth  paint, 
With  eyes  of  the  doe  and  face  like  a  saint. 
But  our  girls  have  beauty  of  lily  and  rose, 
Are  dainty  and  modest,  have  gracious  repose. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  383 

They  have  hearts  like  yourselves,  but  scorn  to  malign 
A  lot  of  fair  maids  who  to  their  friends  have  been  kind; 
But  I'm  sure  in  the  hearts  of  the  Fourth  now  at  home 
Sweet  thoughts  of  our  girls  fill  memory's  throne. 

We  had  no  desire  to  win  them  from  you, 

But  alas!  many  found  our  girls  winsome  and  true, 

And  now  at  the  north,  in  anger  and  strife, 

You  berate  the  poor  man  who  came  back  for  a  wife. 

And  let  me  here  add,  for  I  know  it  is  true, 
(And  this  is  no  secret  I'm  confiding  to  you) 
That  many  who  left  dear  sweethearts  up  there, 
Found  out  their  mistake  when  our  girls  they  met  here. 

How  could  they  resist  our  sweet  southern  smiles 
Or  the  coy  charming  graces  of  fair  maidens'  wiles? 
We  mostly  gave  friendship;  'twas  all  that  we  had, 
For  our  love  we  held  sacred  for  southern  born  lads. 

You  girls  are,  at  least,  not  generous  and  kind. 

For  in  "spite"  you  have  answered,  I  beg  to  remind, 

A  girl  who  had  written  with  kindest  intent 

Of  the  boys,  for  whom  only  warm  praises  were  meant. 

You  all  seem  to  think  that  our  kindness  was  meant 
For  something  of  which,  our  girls  never  dreamt. 
We  lack  not  for  lovers.     If  we  won  a  few  hearts 
'Twas  only  because  we  acted  kind  sisters'  parts. 

And  now  as  I  come  to  the  end  of  my  lay 
There's  one  other  thing  I  really  must  say, 
That  sweethearts  and  lovers  we  have  by  the  score 
And  don't  have  to  travel  to  find  a  few  more. 


384  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Tho'  we  frankly  acknowledge  your  boys  to  be  brave, 
Our  hearts  to  our  own  boys,  we  long  ago  gave, 
Who  are  loyal  and  loving,  brave,  honest  and  true 
As  the  Fourth  or  any  who  wore  Uncle  Sam's  blue. 
Savannah,  June  6,  1899.  LOULIX. 


The  two  following  poems  have  been  furnished  us  by 
friends  of  the  regiment,  and  are  inserted  because  of  their 
relation  and  reference  to  it. 

CHEER  UP,   CUBANS. 

By  Lucy  T.  Sumerlin. 
Tune:  "  Tramp,  Tramp,  Tramp  the  Boys  are  Marching. 

Come,  ye  grey  coats  and  the  blue, 

Buckle  on  your  armor  new, 
March  in  solid  phalanx  on  to  southern  strands; 

As  Yankees,  we  are  one 

And  as  Yankees,  we  are  done 
Waiting  for  the  Spaniards  to  withdraw  their  clans. 

CHORUS: 

Tramp,  tramp,  tran^p,  the  boys  are  marching; 
Cheer  up,  Cubans,  they  will  come, 

With  our  ships  upon  the  sea 

And  our  men  to  march  with  thee 
We'll  secure  to  you  your  freedom  and  your  home. 

Twenty  million  men  or  more 
Can  be  drawn  from  shore  to  shore; 
All  the  Yankees  full  of  spirit,  brave  and  true 
Would  then  join  the  mighty  host 
For  which  Yankees  well  may  boast 
'Neath  the  stars  and  striper,  our  own  red,   white  and 

blue. 
CHORUS. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  38$ 

All  the  brave  boys  on  the  Maine 

Who  by  treachery  were  slain, 
And  the  battleship  we  prided  much  is  gone; 

Mothers,  wives  and  babies  too, 

Cry  for  help  to  Yankees  true, 
From  a  land  where  cruel  Spain  has  reinged  so  long, 

CHORUS. 

Shall  the  voice  from  the  grave 

And  the  men  beneath  the  wave 
Call  for  vengeance  from  this  nation  all  in  vain? 

We  will  prove  our  claim  to  worth 
When  we  bring  down  to  the  earth 
All  the  tyrants  and  the  cruel  sons  of  Spain. 

CHORUS. 

The  writer  of  the  above,   a  resident  of  Mattoon,  Illi- 
nois, is  entirely  blind. 


CUBAN    ISLE. 

By  Arthur  T.  French,  a  member  of  Company  F,  Fourth  Infantry- 

(FROM  ILLINOIS.) 
I. 

By  the  gulf  stream  gently  flowing,  Cuban  Isle,  Cuban  Isle, 
O'er  the  water  wave-like  growing,  Cuban  Isle,  Cuban  Isle, 

Comes  an  echo  on  the  breeze, 

Reaching  all  the  lands  and  seas, 

And  its  mellow  tones  are  these,  Cuban  Isle,  Cuban  Isle, 
And  its  mellow  tones  are  these,  Cuban  Isle. 

25 


386  HISTORY    OF    THE 

II. 

In  your  struggle  now  with  Spain,  Cuban  Isle,  Cuban  Isle, 
May  your  work  not  be  in  vain,  Cuban  Isle,  Cuban  Isle, 

'Till  upon  the  map  of  time 

Trace  your  record  out  sublime 

Blotting  out  the  Spaniard's  crime,   Cuban  Isle,  Cuban  Isle, 
Blotting  out  the  Spaniard's  crime,  Cuban  Isle. 

III. 

When  the  tyrant  smote  your  land,  Cuban  Isle,  Cuban  Isle, 
Spreading  death  on  every  hand,  Cuban  Isle,  Cuban  Isle, 

Freedom  from  your  land  withdrew, 

Putting  False  against  the  True, 
There  were  none  more  brave  than  you,  Cuban  Isle,  Cuban 

Isle, 
There  were  none  more  brave  than  you,  Cuban  Isle. 

IV. 

Not  without  thy  wondrous  story,  Cuban  Isle,  Cuban   Isle, 
Can  be  writ  the  New  World's  glory,  Cuban  Isle,  Cuban  Isle, 

On  the  record  of  the  years 

General  Maceo's  name  appears 

Gomez,  Garcia  and  our  tears,  Cuban  Isle,  Cuban  Isle, 
Gomez,  Garcia  and  our  tears,  Cuban  Isle. 

While  we  have  confined  ourselves  principally  to  that 
period  of  our  regiments  history,  which  began  when  the  last 
company,  having  passed  the  ordeal  of  a  physical  examina^ 
tion,  took  its  place  in  the  ranks  and  was  duly  mustered 
into  the  services  of  the  United  States,  still,  in  passing  the 
childhood  and  youth  of  this  military  organization  with  but 
a  bare  mention,  as  we  have  deemed  it  proper,  yet  its  latter 
history  should  not  be  read  in  the  same  light  in  which  other 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  387 

organizations  are  read,  that  went  out  from  this  and  other 
states  of  the  Union. 

We  must  ever  look  at  it  in  the  clear  light  of  the  rela- 
tion its  individual  members  and  companies  sustained  to 
each  other  and  the  government,  during  these  years  of  its 
youth  and  childhood.  For  while  in  this  and  other  states, 
men  promptly  answered  the  call  to  arms  from  every  walk 
of  life,  joining  companies  in  different  localities,  each  hold- 
ing no  organic  relation  to  the  others  as  a  regiment;  this 
body  was  already  an  organized  regiment  which  had  made 
for  itself  a  history  of  no  secondary  character,  during  a 
series  of  years  while  enrolled  as  the  Fourth  Illinois  Nat- 
ional Guard.  Thus  it  possessed  advantages  over  other 
regiments  just  formed,  in  that  it  was  already  to  a  great 
extent  acquainted  with  and  able  to  execute  the  tactics  as 
laid  down  for  the  use  of  our  army.  Hence,  barring  the 
fact  of  its  newly  added  material,  by  which  the  companies 
were  recruited  up  to  the  maximum,  it  was  prepared  to 
enter  at  once  the  arena  of  conflict  with  no  small  prospect 
of  achieving  honor  in  the  face  of  the  enemy  on  a  foreign 
soil. 

It  was  this  fact  that  tended  greatly  to  chafe  and 
iritate  the  regiment,  when  others,  whose  organization  was 
much  more  recent  and  whose  fitness,  from  a  military  point 
of  view,  was  far  inferior,  were  ordered  to  the  front  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  short  yet  decisive  conflict  for  the  liberating 
of  a  struggling  and  oppressed  people,  who  had  prostrated 
themselves  at  the  feet  of  our  nation,  pleading  for  deliver- 
ance with  piteous  tones  and  outstretched  hands;  hands  lean 
and  bony  from  want  of  food  ruthlessly  snatched  therefrom, 
blood  stained  from  their  long  and  next  to  fruitless  eifort 
to  gather  from  the  fast  wasting  resources  the  merest  sub- 
sistence. But  instead  of  marching  to  this  open  door  of 
active  service,  it  was  our  lot  to  enter  and  fit  up  camp  after 


388 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


camp,  wearing  away  the  days,  weeks  and  months,  in  the 
most  monotonus  routine  way  conceivable,  with  no  other 
incentive  before  us  than  the  honor  of  attaining  to  a  degree 
of  skill  in  drill  and  camp  duties,  that  were  not  to  be  ex- 
celled by  any  with  whom  we  were  associated  in  our  brief 
tedious,  and  in  a  measure  galling,  army  life  and  experience. 


MORRO    CASTLE. 


U.   S.   MILITARY  CEMETERY. 

As  many  of  our  readers  have  visited  what  to  every 
soldier  in  the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  is  the  sacred  spot  on 
Cuban  soil,  we  give  here  a  cut  of  the  U.  S.  Military  Burying 
Ground,  near  Playa,  where  we  left  the  bodies  of  forty 
who  were  connected  with  the  corps. 


390 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


The  trenches  in  which  these  graves  were  formed  were 
blasted  out  of  the  solid  lime  stone  rock,  after  which  they 
were  partitioned  off  into  places  about  thirty  inches  wide, 
with  lumber,  forming  a  box  for  each  seperate  coffin. 

The  Fourth  was  one  of  the  few  regiments  in  the 
Seventh  Army  Corps  which  did  not  leave  any  of  its  men  in 
this  sacred  spot. 


CAPT.  AL.  SNYDER,  Q.  M. 


S.  B.  BLACKWELL,  Q.  M.  SERGT. 


AL.  SNYDER. 

Capt.  Al.  Snyder,  whose  portrait  we  have  the  privilege 
to  present  herewith,  is  a  native  of  Edgar  county,  Illinois — 
was  born  on  a  farm  near  Paris  on  the  i/th  of  February, 
1853.  His  schooling,  prior  to  his  fourteenth  year,  was 
secured  in  the  country  district  school  near  his  father's 
home,  except  two  years  which  were  spent  in  the  graded 
schools  of  Paris.  From  his  fourteenth  to  the  eighteenth 
year  of  his  age  he  attended  school  in  Paris,  completing 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  39 1 

during  this  time  the  course  of  a  private  normal  school  of 
that  city. 

Having  moved  to  Arcola,  Douglas  county,  he  in  1881 
entered  the  state  militia,  becoming  a  charter  member  of 
Company  A,  was  mustered  in  as  second  lieutenant,  and 
later  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant;  still 
bearing  this  rank,  at  a  later  date  he  was  raised  to  the  rank 
of  captain  and  made  quartermaster  and  commissary  of  the 
Fourth  Regiment,  Illinois  National  Guard,  of  which  Com- 
pany A  formed  a  part.  In  consequence  of  his  relations  to 
this  regiment,  he  was  called  upon  to  take  a  very  important 
and  responsible  part  in  the  strike  of  1886  at  East  St.  Louis, 
and  at  Centralia,  Cartersville  and  Mounds,  and  at  Chicago 
in  the  great  strikes  of  1894.  At  the  call  of  the  govern- 
ment for  our  state  troops  to  take  part  in  the  war  with 
Spain,  he  unhesitatingly  answered  the  call,  and  was  mus- 
tered into  the  United  States  service  on  the  2Oth  of  May, 
1898,  as  regimental  quartermaster,  which  position  he  filled 
until  August  8th  of  the  same  year,  when,  by  order  of  Brig..- 
Gen.  J.  H.  Barclay,  he  was  made  acting  brigade  quarter- 
master of  the  Second  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Seventh 
Army  Corps.  On  the  I9th  of  October,  1898,  he  was 
made  acting  brigade  quartermaster  of  the  Second  Brigade, 
First  Division,  Seventh  Army  Corps,  by  order  of  Brig. - 
Gen.  Henry  T.  Douglas.  Following  hard  on  this,  on  the 
2Oth  day  of  the  same  month,  by  command  of  Major- 
General  Green,  he  was  promoted  to  acting  assistant  chief 
quartermaster  of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  while  February 
1 5th,  1899,  brought  another  order  from  Brig. -Gen.  Henry 
T.  Douglas,  placing  him  in  the  position  of  acting  brigade 
quartermaster,  Second  Brigade,  First  Division,  Seventh 
Army  Corps. 

Prior  to  muster  out  he  returned  to  his  former  position 


392  HISTORY    OF   THE 

of  regimental  quartermaster,  which  he  held  when  mustered 
out  of  the  United  States  service. 

While  the  quartermaster's  position  is  one  involving 
much  and  constant  work,  it  also  entails  a  very  heavy  responsi- 
bility. It  need  scarcely  be  said  that  Captain  Snyder  did 
his  work  well  and  met  every  responsibility  with  fidelity. 

In  civil  life  he  is  one  of  the  recognized  broom  corn 
merchants  of  Arcola,  as  well  as  also  being  engaged  in  the 
insurance,  real  estate  and  loan  business. 


SAMUEL  B.   BLACKWELL,  JR. 

Among  Illinois'  young  Nationial  Guardsmen  who  were 
glad  and  proud  to  respond  to  the  call  of  duty  in  the  months 
which  issued  in  the  stirring  year  of  1898  was  Samuel  B. 
Blackwell,  Jr.,  of  Arcola,  Douglas  county,  Illinois. 

This  young  man  was  born  in  Arcola,  Douglas  county, 
Illinois,  June  8,  1872,  received  his  education  in  the  public 
and  high  schools  of  that  place,  and  embarked  in  the  grocery 
business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Blackwell  &  McCaine 
in  1893.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guard,  served  as  a  private 
one  year,  as  a  corporal  two  years  and  was  then  advanced 
to  the  office  of  quartermaster-sergeant  of  the  Fourth  Illi- 
nois National  Guard,  which  position  he  has  held  five  years. 
During  the  strike  of  1894,  in  Chicago,  he  took  his  stand 
against  riot,  with  other  brave  sons  in  the  Fourth  Illinois. 

Duty  and  love  for  his'  country's  beautiful  Stars  and 
Stripes  showed  this  young  American  and  soldier  his  duty, 
and  he  did  it  when  President  McKinley  called  for  volun- 
teers for  our  late  war  with  Spain.  On  the  morning  of  April 
26,  1898,  he  left  his  home  and  friends  to  take  his  chances 
of  life  or  death  with  his  regiment  to  free  Cuba.  After  a 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  393 

stay  of  one  month  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  he  left  for  Jack- 
sonville, Florida,  where  he  remained  four  months;  from 
there  the  Fourth  Illinois  Infantry  went  to  Savannah, 
Georgia,  where  it  remained  until  its  departure  for  Cuba, 
January  3,  1899,  on  the  transport  Mobile.  As  a  part  of 
the  "Army  of  Occupation  "  in  Cuba,  the  Fourth  Illinois 
took  its  share  of  duties,  and  with  his  regiment  Samuel  B. 
Blackwell,  Jr.,  arrived  in  his  native  state  in  May,  1899. 
The  pleasure  of  credit  for  duties  well  performed,  from 
proper  authorities,  was  his  reward.  Cuba  is  free  and  glad 
to  owe  its  freedom  to  such  spirits  of  loyalty  as  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. 


REGIMENTAL    BAND. 

The  Fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  Band  was 
organized  at  Camp  Tanner,  Springfield,  111.,  under  the 
leadership  of  W.  L.  Faris,  of  Jacksonville,  TIL,  April  29, 
1898,  consisting  of  members'  names  as  follows: 

W.  L.  Faris,  Chief  Musician,  cornet,  Jacksonville,  111. 

Como  Trogdon,  Principal  Musician,  baritone,  Paris,  111. 

W.  T.  Stewart,  Principal  Musician,  solo  alto,    Paris,  111. 

Charles  Nail,  tuba,  Donnellson,  111. 

A.  C.  Owings,  tuba,  Litchfield,  111. 

Leo  J.  Frey,  first  trombone,  Springfield,  111. 

John  Twitchel,  first  alto,  Virden,  111. 

Fred  R.    McKnight,    second   alto,    Ramsey,    111. ;    detailed 

from  Co.  I. 

Albert  Bassett,  first  cornet,  Neoga,  111. 
Joy  Woodman,  solo  cornet,  Virden,  111. 
John  McKnight,  E  cornet,  Ramsey,   111. 
Carl  Kirkpatrick,  E  clarionet,  Virden,  111. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  395 

Edward  Dewey,  saxophone,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 
William  Patterson,  snare  drum,   Paris,  111. 
Jess  Gossett,  bass  drum,  Casey,  111. 
Edward  Howard,  cymbals,  Paris,  111. 

Left  Camp  Tanner,  Springfield,  111.,  with  the  regi- 
ment for  Jacksonville,  Fla..  May  26,  1898;  arrived  at  our 
destination  May  29,  1898.  William  Santer,  of  Greencave 
Springs.  Fla.,  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  K,  Fourth 
Illinois  Regiment,  and  detailed  to  the  band  to  play  bari- 
tone. He  remained  with  the  band  until  October  15,  when 
he  went  home  on  a  sick  furlough,  and  October  21  he  died. 
The  Fourth  Illinois  Band  played  for  his  funeral  at  his  home. 

October  26  we  received  orders  to  go  to  Savannah,  Ga., 
and  arrived  there  October  27,  took  up  quarters  in  Irish 
park  with  Colonel  Andel.  Here  John  McKnight,  who,  being 
detailed  from  Company  B,  Fourth  Illinois  Volunteers,  was 
honorably  discharged  on  account  of  physical  disability 
October  30,  1898.  We  remained  at  Irish  park  until  De- 
cember i,  1898,  when  the  regiment  was  called  off  provost 
guard  and  took  up  quarters  at  Camp  Onward.  Here  our 
chief  musician,  W.  L.  Faris,  was  honorably  discharged 
December  10,  1898.  Here  the  band  was  reorganized  and 
detached  from  all  companies,  under  the  leadership  of  W. 
E.  Daggy,  with  the  following  members: 

W.  E.  .Daggy,  chief  musician,  cornet,  Mattoon,  111. 

Camo  Trogdon,  principal  musician,  baritone,  Paris,  111. 

W.  T.  Stewart,  principal  musician,  solo  alto,  Paris,    111. 

Geo.  Gibler,  solo  cornet,  Mattoon,  111. 

Howard  Style,  solo  cornet,  Mattoon,  111. 

Albert  Bassett,  first  cornet,  Neoga,  111. 

Louis  Higgins,  first  cornet,  Neoga,  111. 

Frank  Romizer,  solo  B-flat  clarionet,  Winchester,  Jnd. 


396  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Wm.  Plen,  first  B-flat  clarionet,  Hutsonville,  111. 

Edward  Dewey,  first  B-flat  clarionet,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Wm.  Combs,  second  B-flat  clarionet,  Arcola,  111. 

Joy  Woodman,  E-flat  clarionet,  Virden,  111. 

Perl  C.  Newlin,  piccalo,  Casey,  111. 

John  Twitchel,  first  alto,  Virden,  111. 

Fred  McKnight,  second  alto,  Ramsey,  111.;  detailed  from 
Company  I. 

Leo.  J.  Fry,  slide  trombone,  Springfield,  111. 

Don  Carlos  Merritt,  slide  trombone,  Charleston,  111. 

Mark  Carruthers,  tennor,  Hazel  Del,  111. 

A.  C.  Owings,  tennor,   Litchfield,  111. 

Harry  Bassett,  baritone,  Neoga,    111. 

Raymond  Coon,  tuba,  Mattoon,  III. 

Chas.  Wall,  tuba,  Donnellson,  111. 

Richard  Byers,  snare  drum,  Charleston,  111. 

Edward  Howard,  bass  drum,  Paris,  111. 

Serg.  Ben  Walker,  drum  major,  Carbondale,  111. ;  detailed 
from  Company  C  Dec.  15,  1898;  returned  to  his  re- 
spective company  Feb.  10,  1899,  at  Camp  Colum- 
bia, Havana,  Cuba. 

Serg.  Harry  C.  Faulke,  of  Company  K;  detailed  to  the 
band  as  drum  major  Feb.  10,  1899. 

Albert  C..  Owings;  honorably  discharged  Feb.  16,  1899,  at 
Camp  Columbia,  Havana,  Cuba. 

Bart  Kelley;  detailed  from  Company  H  to  play  tennor  in 
the  absence  of  A.  C.  Owings,  who  was  formerly 
honorably  dischared. 

Wm.  Patterson;  detailed  from  Company  H  to  play  snare 
drum  in  the  absence  of  Richard  E.  Byers,  who  is 
physically  disabled. 


398  HISTORY   OF"  THE 

DR.  I.  C.  McCORD. 

Dr.  I.  C.  McCord,  major  and  surgeon  of  the  Fourth 
Illinois  National  Guard,  was  born  at  York,  Clark  county, 
Illinois,  December  19,  1856.  He  is  a  son  of  Major  D.  O. 
McCord,  surgeon  in  the  Civil  war,  and  was  with  his  father 
during  that  little  family  unpleasantness  from  1863  to  1865, 
and  has  vivid  remembrances  of  Vicksburg,  Island  No.  10, 
(Jeff)  Davis  Bend,  Memphis,  Hellena  and  other  historic 
points  in  connection  with  those  stirring  days.  Having  been 
raised  on  a  farm,  he  devoted  the  summer  to  the  occupation 
of  a  farmer,  and  applied  himself  to  his  books  in  the  village 
school  during  the  winter;  having  fully  replenished  the  wood 
pile  with  long  poles,  which  was  to  be  transformed  into  fire 
and  stove  wood  for  the  winter  use,  by  the  application  of 
brawn  and  ax  on  the  Saturday  rest  days,  when  a  boy  enjoys 
the  rabit  hunt.  He  also  sought  a  broader  education  at  the 
Wabash  Academy  and  Edgar  Academy,  and  later  graduated 
from  the  Medical  College  of  Ohio,  Medical  Department  of 
the  University  of  Cincinnati,  in  1883. 

His  connection  with  the  Illinois  National  Guard  began 
some  eighteen  years  ago,  and  during  all  this  stretch  of  time 
he  has  missed  attending  but  one  of  the  state  encampments, 
— -in  the  summer  of  1892,  being  on  leave  in  Europe. 

In  these  years  he  has  run  the  gauntlet  of  military  ex- 
perience from  private  to  that  of  regmental  surgeon.  He 
was  ranking  assistant  surgeon  of  the  state  when  appointed 
major  and  surgeon  of  the  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guard. 

During  the  railroad  strikes  in  the  spring  of  1893,  he 
served  as  surgeon  of  the  Fourth  Illinois,  and  also  during 
the  Spanish-American  war,  except  about  four  months  dur- 
ing the  existence  of  the  Third  Division  of  the  Seventh  Army 
Corps,  when  he  acted  as  surgeon  of  the  Second  Brigade, 
Third  Division  of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps.  And  when 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  399 

the  Fourth  regiment,  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  was  mus- 
tered out,  May  2,  1899,  he  was  filling  his  place  as  major 
and  surgeon  therein. 


LIEUT.  GEORGE  E.  HILGARD. 

Lieut.  George  E.  Hilgard,  M.  D.,  assistant  surgeon  of 
the  Fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  is  a  resident  of 
Belleville,  Illinois.  With  the  class  of  1893  he  graduated 
from  the  high  school  of  that  city  and  the  following  fall  he 
entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  continuing  his  stud- 
ies for  three  years  more,  graduating  from  that  institution 
in  the  year  1896.  During  the  following  two  years  he 
assisted  the  county  physician,  thus  gaining  much  practical 
experience,  the  better  fitting  him  for  his  chosen  profession. 
.During  his  school  years,  in  1895,  ne  enlisted  as  a  member 
of  Company  D,  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guards,  and  with 
it  attended  three  annual  encampments.  During  the  third 
encampment  he  was  placed  on  the  regimental  medical  staff 
as  assistant  surgeon  to  Surgeon-Major  T.  C.  McCord. 

The  only  real  duty  encountered  while  in  the  IlKnois 
National  Guard,  was  during  the  famous  cyclone  period 
of  May,  1896,  which  swept  over  the  city  of  St.  Louis.  At 
this  time  the  company  was  ordered  to  East  St.  Louis,  where 
it  was  held  as  a  guard  for  eleven  days. 

In  February,  1898,  he  was  commissioned  as  assistant 
surgeon  oi  the  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guard.  After  the 
outbreak  of  the  Spanish  hostilities  toward  this  country,  the 
medical  department  was  ordered  to  make  certain  changes — 
looking  to  its  greater  efficiency, — there  being  one  major- 
surgeon  and  five  assistant  surgeons  to  the  regiment.  In 
order  to  determine  those  who  were  best  fitted  for  such  a 
position,  a  rigid  examination  was  resorted  to,  and  Lieuten- 


4OO  HISTORY   OF   THE 

ant  Hilgard  was  one  of  the  three  successful  competitors. 
Major  T.  C.  McCord  and  Charles  M.  Galbraith,  being  the 
other  two. 

As  he  was  a  centennial  gift  to  his  country,  the  Lieu- 
tenant was  doubtless  the  youngest  doctor  in  the  division, 
if  not  in  the  entire  corps, — he  having  had  to  wait  one  year 
for  his  diploma  after  graduating,  owing  to  his  being  too 
young  to  practice  under  our  state  laws.  His  work  in  the 
regiment  during  its  career  in  the  Spanish-American  quarrel, 
was  of  a  most  commendable  character,  and  his  efforts  un- 
tiring. After  the  muster  out  of  the  regiment,  Dr.  Hilgard 
returned  to  Belleville,  the  place  of  his  nativity,  to  continue 
in  the  practice  of  medicine. 


HOSPITAL. 


In  the  state  militia  service  the  fourth  regiment's  hos- 
pital corps  consisted  of  Major  and  Surgeon  T.  C.  McCord, 
of  Paris;  Captain  and  assistant  surgeon  B.  F.  Cook,  Green- 
ville; Lieutenant  and  assistant  surgeon  Charles  M.  Gail- 
braith,  Carbondale;  Lieutenant  and  assistant  surgeon, 
George  E.  Hilgard,  Bellville;  Steward,  Walter*  S.  Lamon, 
Paris;  Steward,  HarlowW.  Long,  Newton;  Steward,. Charles 
B.  Mallonee,  Paris;  Privates,  Willis  O.  Augustus,  Ed  W. 
Dickenson,  Will  Blackman,  Willard  Matthias,  George 
Boyd,  Raleigh  M.  Woolley,  Ira  Huffman,  Warren  Wiley, 
of  Paris;  Percy  Link,  of  Robinson;  Andy  C.  Musgrave, 
of  Hutsonville;  Allen  P.  Dibble,  of  Mattoon. 

The  Fourth's  hospital  corps  at  this  time  was  an  en- 
tirely seperate  organization  from  the  regiment.  In  other 
Illinois  regiments  the  corps  were  chosen  from  the  ranks  of 
the  command;  but  that  of  the  Fourth  was  recruited  directly 
from  civil  life. 

When  war  with  Spain  was  declared  the  corps  was 
sworn  into  the  United  States  service  with  the  regiment,  and 
proceeded  to  Jacksonville,  Florida.  Upon  arrival  at  this 
camp  it  was  learned  that  Congress,  in  calling  for  forces  had 
neglected  to  make  provision  for  volunteer  hospital  corps, 
consequently  those  men  belonging  to  these  organizations 
were  compelled  to  be  sworn  into  the  regular  army  for  a 
period  of  three  years,  or  until  the  war  was  over.  At  about 
this  time  an  order  was  issued  announcing  that  these  corps 
should  be  enlarged  in  point  of  numbers,  each  regiment  to 
furnish  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  men  all  told.  Accord- 

26 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  403 

ingly  fresh  men,  to  complete  the  organization,  were  de- 
tailed by  the  twelve  companies,  and  these,  inclusive  of  the 
original  corps  ,  were  then  sworn  into  the  regular  army. 

The  new  men  to  enter  this  branch  of  the  service  were 
as  follows:  Privates  Elza  M.  Ragan,  Harry  L.  Cullom, 
Leonard  A.  Osborne,  Company  E;  Sergeant  John  P.  Wil- 
kins,  Private  Hans  Gassman,  Company  A;  Fred  Huffman, 
Ed  Lowe,  Homer  Putnam,  James  Logan,  Charles  Bagley, 
Company  H;  David  Black,  Company  L;  Hugo  Goelitz, 
Company  D;  Carl  Baker,  Harry  Stites,  Company  C;  John 
Hoffman,  Harry  S.  Huffman,  Bert  W.  Caldwell,  Company 
G;  Edward  Hill,  Malcolm  Hutchison,  Company  I;  James 
Burge,  Company  K;  Charles  E.  Little,  Charles  O.  Burton, 
Jefferson  Portlock,  Company  B;  George  Perry,  Claude 
McCool,  James  Oglesby,  Company  M. 

After  being  fully  equipped  with  hospital  accoutrements 
the  majority  of  the  men  were  permanently  detailed  to  the 
division  hospitals  of  the  army  corps,  Steward  Long  and 
Privates  Augustus  and  Boyd  remaining  at  the  regimental 
hospital  for  duty.  Lieut.  George  E.  Hilgard,  Steward 
Charles  B.  Mallonee,  and  Privates  Blackman,  Dyas,  Ewing, 
Woolley,  Huffman  (Ira),  Hutchison,  and  Ragan,  were  sent 
to  the  Second  Division  Ambulance  Company,  while  the 
remainder  of  the  organization  were  ordered  to  report  to  the 
Second  Division  Hospital.  In  September  the  ambulance 
company  was  disbanded  and  the  men  sent  to  the  division 
hospital.  Steward  Walter  S.  Lamon  and  Private  Ed  W. 
Dickenson  were  then  detailed  for  duty  at  the  medical  sup- 
ply depot  in  the  city  of  Jacksonville,  the  former  to  assume 
charge  of  the  establishment  under  Maj.  James  E.  Pilcher, 
and  the  latter  to  act  as  clerk.  Private  Dickenson  was 
honorably  discharged  in  August.  Subsequently  Private 
Walter  L.  Ewing,  of  the  ambulance  company,  was  sent 
here  also  for  duty. 


404  HISTORY   OF   THE 

'Owing  to  the  efficiency  and  general  worth  of  the  men 
sent  from  the  Fourth  into  the  medical  department,  more 
promotions  fell  to  these  men  than  all  other  regimental 
hospital  corps  in  the  Seventh  Army  Corps  combined.  This 
evidently  was  not  a  matter  of  chance  or  accident,  but 
shows  the  care  with  which  the  selections  had  been  made  in 
the  organization  and  recruiting  of  the  corps. 

Those  of  the  privates  to  be  made  acting  stewards  after 
entrance  into  the  regular  service  were:  Acting  Stewards 
A.  C.  Musgrave,  Hans  Gassman,  Charles  O.  Burton, 
Raleigh  M.  Woolley,  Charles  E.  Little,  Allen  P.  Dibble 
and  David  Black.  Promoted  to  lance  acting  stewards,  a 
rank  immediately  below  acting  steward,  were  Harry  Stites 
ank  Hugo  Goelitz.  In  other  regiments  the  commanders  of 
companies  took  advantage  of  the  opportunities  afforded  in 
the  call  for  men  to  recruit  the  medical  department  by 
unloading  their  objectionable  soldiers  into  this  branch  of 
the  service.  This  was  not  practiced  among  the  Fourth's 
officers.  In  fact,  the  best  men  of  each  company  were 
chosen  for  the  work,  and  consequently  reward  in  promotion 
was  given  them  for  the  valuable  and  meritorious  service 
rendered. 

While  in  Jacksonville,  Maj.  T.  C.  McCord  was 
detailed  as  brigade  surgeon,  and  won  for  himself  no  small 
amount  of  distinction,  so  well  did  he  conduct  the  affairs 
pertaining  to  this  responsible  position. 

In  November,  1898,  after  the  regiment  had  moved  to 
Savannah,  Lieut.  Charles  M.  Galbraith  was  ordered  to 
report  to  the  First  Division  hospital  for  duty,  where  he 
was  placed  in  command  of  one  of  the  companies.  Upon 
several  occasions,  during  the  absence  of  Maj.  John  R. 
McDill,  commander  of  the  entire  hospital,  Lieutenant 
Galbraith  acted  in  this  capacity,  always  proving  himself 
worthy  of  the  trust  bestowed  upon  him. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  405 

Before  departure  for  Cuba  it  was  decided  by  the  chief 
surgeon  of  the  army  corps  that  each  regiment  should  again 
have  a  small  regimental  hospital.  They  were  to  be  a  sort 
of  a  detention  affair  to  retain  men  until  their  ailments 
could  be  thoroughly  diagnosed.  By  this  time  Major  Mc- 
Cord,  Lieutenant  Hilgard  and  Stewart  Mallonee  had  been 
returned  to  the  regiment  from  the  posts  to  which  they  had 
been  detailed  for  special  duty. 

To  complete  the  regimental  hospital  company  for 
service  in  Cuba,  the  following  men  were  returned  to  the 
regiment  from  the  first  division  hospital :  Acting  Steward 
Raleigh,  M.  Woolley,  Privates  Burge,  Baker,  Ira  and  Fred 
Huffman,  Osborne,  Ewing  and  Lowe.  On  departure  for 
Cuba  Steward  Lamon  was  returned  to  the  regiment. 

One  month  later  Ewing  and  Lowe  were  discharged 
while  in  Cuba;  but  the  others  remained  with  the  regiment 
until  mustered  out.  The  men  who  were  left  on  duty  at 
the  division  hospital  were  individually  discharged  soon  after 
the  regiment  was  let  out  of  the  United  States  service. 


MISS  J.   ENGELMANN. 

[A  sacrifice  to  the  scourge  at  Jacksonville,  Florida.] 
Josephine  Engelmann  was  born  on  her  father's  farm 
near  Shiloh,  Illinois,  on  the  i6th  of  September,  1867. 

She  received  only  the  education  which  that  district 
afforded.  She  lost  her  mother  when  she  was  only  twelve 
years  old,  and  being  the  oldest  of  three  children  that  were 
left,  and  being  of  a  serious  turn  of  mind,  she  made  the  best 
of  the  opportunities  afforded,  and  under  the  guidance  of 
her  excellent  father,  Col.  Adolph  Engelmann,  and  her 
genial  and  highly  gifted  aunt,  Miss  Josephine  Engelmann, 
developed  into  a  noble  womanhood.  Having  grown  up  in 


406 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


a  family  who  had  cut  loose  from  all  dogmatic  beliefs,  Jose- 
phine's intense  desire  for  the  spiritual  and  high,  the  craving 
of  her  nature  for  reverence  and  devotion,  induced  her  to 
join  the  Methodist  church,  of  which  she  was  a  truej-and 
faithful  adherent  up  to  her  death. 


MISS    J.   ENGELMANN. 

When  Colonel  Engelmann  was  called  to  Belleville  as 
postmaster,  she  became  the  mother  of  the  little  household, 
and  the  faithful  helpmate  of  her  father.  After  some  years 
death  claimed  her  aunt  and  soon  after  her  father  as  his 
own.  With  the  increase  of  her  duties  and  responsibilities 
grew  also  Josephine's  ardent  wish  and  resolute  determina- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  407 

tion  to  be  the  advisor  and  provider  of  her  family,  to  be  the 
means  of  developing  her  brother  Otto,  many  years  her 
junior,  into  that  noble  manhood  of  which  the  boy  gave 
promise.  Together  they  took  care  of  a  little  farm,  while 
Josephine  added  to  their  income  by  teaching  school,  first  in 
the  country  and  then  at  Belleville.  Teaching  was  to  her  a 
religious  act.  She  deeply  felt  the  great  responsibility  rest- 
ing with  a  teacher,  of  guiding  the  souls  of  her  charges  to 
find  and  love  the  beautiful  and  good,  and  great  was  her  joy 
in  being  rewarded  by  the  appreciative  interest  of  the  children. 
She  also,  for  many  years,  with  great  interest  and  devotion, 
taught  Sunday  school  at  Belleville  and  at  Shiloh.  Thus  years 
had  flown,  in  which,  amid  all  the  arduous  duties  devolving 
upon  this  youngwoman, she  persistently  andeagerly  made  use 
of  every  opportunity  of  improving  her  mind  and  broadening 
her  sympathies  and  sought  to  provide  ways  and  means  for 
her  sister  and  brother  to  do  the  same. 

When  the  war  for  the  assistance  of  Cuban  insurgents 
called  our  volunteers  to  arms,  Josephine  was  thankful  that 
duty  prompted  her  young  brother  to  stay  with  his  orphaned 
sisters,  although  she  was  much  in  sympathy  with  this  cause, 
thirsting  ever  to  help  the  oppressed.  But,  when  at  the 
second  call,  Otto  B.  Engelmann  felt  it  his  duty  to  offer  his 
services  to  the  need  of  his  country,  she  unflinchingly  gave 
her  approval.  Her  trembling  heart  had  learned  to  place 
duty  above  its  own  desires.  Otto  Engelmann  joined  Com- 
pany D  Fourth  Regular  Illinois  Volunteers  on  the  i6th  of 
June,  fitted  out  with  all  that  the  love  and  devotion  of  his 
sisters  could  do  for  their  young  hero-brother. 

With  the  eyes  of  love  and  solicitude  every  move  of  the 
regiment  was  watched,  every  line  he  wrote  was  weighed. 
When  sickness  began  to  strike  down  friends  on  all  sides  of 
the  object  of  their  solicitude,  these  girls  lived  between  hope 
and  despair,  and  when  the  news  came  that  Otto  was  seri- 


4O8  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ously  sick,  Josephine  hastened  to  his  bedside,  to  tear  him 
from  the  claws  of  death,  as  she  thought.  Her  mission  was 
successful;  not  .only  did  Otto  recover,  but  she  was  also  the 
means  of  bringing  solace  to  many  a  sad  heart  by  her  sym- 
pathetic words  and  deeds. 

But,  alas,  the  dread  disease  had  taken  hold  of  her! 
Perhaps  the  anxiety  and  suffering  had  weakened  her  too 
much,  or  she  had  not  paid  sufficient  attention  to  the  ap- 
proach of  the  disease.  She  went  to  the  hospital  on  the 
1 4th  of  October,  and  died  on  the  2Oth.  Her  body  was  sent 
home  to  be  laid  to  rest  in  the  family  burial  ground  near 
Shiloh.  The  funeral  was  a  touching  tribute,  paid  by  sev- 
eral hundred  relatives  and  friends  to  this  heroic  girl,  the 
true  Christian,  the  noble  woman.  Could  she  have  lived, 
the  world  would  have  been  the  better  and  happier  for  it; 
Josephine  Engelmann's  life  would  have  been  consecrated  to 
the  solacing  and  uplifting  of  humanity.  Her  noble  exam- 
ple undoubtedly  has  inspired  many  a  soul.  Her  influence 
and  her  memory  live  with  us. 


REV.   H.    W.   TOOD. 

Rev.  H.  W.  Todd,  of  Vandalia,  Illinois,  was,  upon 
the  recommendation  of  the  regimental  commander,  duly 
appointed  Chaplain  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry  April  15,  1898.  Reverend  Todd  served  the 
regiment  for  six  months,  and  owing  to  failing  health  re- 
signed his  position  as  Chaplain.  Said  resignation  was  ac- 
cepted and  he  was  honorably  discharged  November  I,  1898. 

We  regret  that  a  more  extended  sketch  could  not  be 
secured  for  this  work. — J.  R.  S. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


409 


CAPT.  H.  W.  TODD.  CAPT.  J.  R.  SKINNER. 

REV.  J.    R.   SKINNER. 

Born  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  December  25,  1846,  his 
father  dying  before  he  reached  the  age  of  five  years  and  the 
family  breaking  up  two  years  later,  he  was  thrown  among 
strangers  to  struggle  for  himself.  His  early  years  were  de- 
voted to  farming,  blacksmithing  and  day  labor  while  his 
education  was  practically  neglected.  But  desiring  the  gos- 
pel ministry,  he  was  encouraged  by  a  friend,  Rev.  S.  B. 
Leiter,  D.D.,  to  enter  school  and  begin  his  literary  prepar- 
ations therefor.  The  counsel  was  accepted  and  Heidel- 
burg  University,  Tiffin,  Ohio,  was  the  institution  chosen 
for  that  purpose,  and  after  years  and  parts  of  years  of  hard 
study  and  economy,  that  at  times  amounted  to  sacrifice,  in 
June,  1873,  he  entered  upon  his  chosen  profession  at  Win- 
imac,  Indiana,  jiear  where,  in  1876,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Mary  A.  Good,  who  with  their  elder  son  entered 


4IO  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  service  of  the  United  States,  some  months  prior  to  his 
chaplaincy.  He  has  served  fields  in  Ohio,  Michigan,  Iowa, 
Kansas,  Texas  and  Illinois,  which  latter  state  he  has  had 
the  honor  of  representing  in  the  chaplaincy  of  the  Fourth 
Illinois  Volunteers  in  their  campaign  as  a  part  of  the  army 
of  occupation  in  Cuba.  As  to  efficiency  and  faithfulness 
in  this  capacity  it  is  left  for  those  intimate  with  his  work 
to  testify. 


J.   UPTON  EVERS. 

J.  Uptan  Evers,  of  New  York  City,  now  a  representa- 
tive of  the  Army  and  Navy  International  Christian  Com- 
mission, was  born  in  Reading  City,  Pennsylvania.  Owing 
to  his  father's  ministerial  profession  he  resided  in  various 
eastern  cities  during  childhood. 

After  graduating  at   the  Academy  and   High  school, 


J.     U.     EVERS. 

Mr.  Evers  studied  law  two  years  at  Martinsburg,  West 
Virginia,  where  he  subsequently  practiced  in  the  magistrate 
courts.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  legal  studies  he  entered 
Dickinson  College  at  Carlisle,  Pensylvania.  Subsequent 
to  his  collegiate  course  he  accepted  a  position  in  a  promi- 
nent law  firm  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  where  he  assumed 
charge  of  a  legal  department. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  411 

Being  strongly  convinced  that  he  ought  to  prepare  for 
the  ministry,  he  entered  Drew  Theological  Seminary. 
While  pursuing  his  theological  studies,  he  received  license 
to  preach  and  assisted  the  pastor  of  Cornell  Memorial 
church  in  New  York  City,  doing  considerable  missionary 
work  in  the  densely  populated  districts  of  the  city. 

When  war  was  declared  Mr.  Evers'  services  were 
secured  to  represent  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
work  in  various  military  camps.  He  labored  at  Camp 
Alger,  Virginia,  Camp  Meade,  Pensylvania,  and  Camp 
Wetherell,  South  Carolina,  after  which  he  went  to  Camp 
Columbia,  Cuba. 

Prior  to  camp  work  in  the  south,  Mr.  Evers  was  called 
to  a  pastorate  in  Hoboken,  New  Jersey,  but  upon  realizing 
the  urgent  need  of  Christian  work  among  the  soldiers,  re- 
signed his  charge,  notwithstanding  his  congregation  would 
not  willingly  consent  to  his  resignation. 

On  the  6th  of  February,  1899,  Mr.  Evers  arrived  in 
Cuba,  and  began  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work  in  the  Fourth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Regiment,  and  the  First  Division  Hospital  at 
Buena  Vista.  About  one  hundred  men  of  the  Fourth  Illi- 
nois Regiment  were  converted  through  the  efforts  of  the  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  and  the  able  co-operation  of  the  chaplain,  J.  R. 
Skinner. 

When  the  volunteer  regiments  were  ordered  home,  Mr. 
Evers  remained  in  Cuba  to  assist  in  permanently  organiz- 
ing Y.  M.  C.  A.  work  throughout  the  island. 


CHAPLAINCY. 

The  chaplaincy  of  this  regiment  dates  back  to  a 
period  much  earlier  than  its  call  to  the  service  of  the 
United  States.  Reverend  McNutt,  of  Effingham,  111.,  hav- 


412  HISTORY    OF   THE 

ing  resigned  shortly  before  the  call  of  our  country,  Rever- 
end H.  W.  Todd,  of  Vandalia,  was  chosen  and  commis- 
sioned as  his  successor,  continuing  in  the  position  some  six 
months,  when  he  resigned  to  return  home.  To  fill  or 
occupy  the  vacancy  thus  occasioned,  Col.  Casimer  Andel 
detailed  Sergt.  R.  W.  Ropiquet,  a  young  attorney  in  Com- 
pany D,  who  held  the  position  until  he  received  his  dis- 
charge later  in  the  fall.  The  position  continued  vacant 
until  December  8,  when  Reverend  John  R.  Skinner,  of 
Arcola,  111.,  was  commissioned,  reporting  for  duty  the  22d 
of  the  same  month. 

On  taking  up  the  work  that  devolved  upon  us  in  the 
regiment,  we  found  a  large  field  for  usefulness,  but  limited 
facilities  as  helps  in  the  accomplishment  of  the  work  that 
needed  so  much  to  be  done.  But  as  the  regiment  was  ex- 
pected to  take  its  departure  for  Cuba  in  a  few  days,  it  was 
not  thought  wise  to  attempt  any  preparations  at  Camp 
Onward  for  holding  religious  meetings.  Neither  was  it 
thought  prudent  to  hold  service  on  the  one  Sabbath  which 
we  were  permitted  to  spend  with  them  in  this  camp,  as  we 
could  scarcely  keep  warm  around  our  little  stoves  in  the 
tents.  Yet  the  work  to  be  done  in  Cuba  must  be  prepared 
for,  and  accordingly  Mr.  A.  E.  Moody,  of  the  Army  and 
Navy  Department  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion, who  has  charge  of  their  work  in  the  Seventh  Army 
Corps,  was  sought  out  at  his  headquarters  in  the  city,  and 
negotiations  for  one  of  their  tents  was  entered  into  with 
him  at  once.  And  while  nothing  definite  could  be  reached, 
yet  there  were  sufficient  gleams  of  success  to  encourage  us 
to  the  pressing  of  our  request  after  reaching  Cuba.  Ac- 
cordingly, after  about  two  weeks  of  hard  work  in  getting 
his  business  and  materials  out  of  the  almost  limitless  tangle 
into  which  the  transportation  with  regimental  goods  had 
brought  them,  Mr.  Moody  informed  us  that  the  way 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  413 

seemed  clear  to  furnish  us  a  tent,  secretary,  and  all  neces- 
sary equipments  for  the  use  of  our  regiment.  Every  effort 
was  made  to  hasten  this  bright  outlook  into  a  pleasant 
reality,  but  to  our  disappointment  it  was  one  of  those  con- 
ditions of  things  that  move  slowly  and  cannot  be  crowded. 
But  during  this  time  our  first  Sabbath  on  the  island  had 
dawned  upon  us  after  a  night  of  almost  incessant  rain  and 
windstorm,  which  demoralized  many  of  the  tents  that  were 
up,  producing  a  very  unpleasant  condition  under  foot, 
besides  the  work  of  moving  goods  from  the  city  to  camp 
and  the  pitching  of  tents  made  it  wholly  impracticable  to  call 
the  men  together  at  the  hour  for  service.  The  Sabbath 
following  dawned  upon  us  brightly,  and  at  service  call,  9 
in  the  morning,  the  band  with  a  couple  of  pieces  of  well- 
chosen  music,  called  a  goodly  number  of  the  boys  about  us 
in  front  of  the  guard  tent,  where  it  was  our  first  privilege 
to  address  an  army  of  men  on  the  great  question  of  their 
duties  and  responsibilities  in  reference  to  their  relation  to 
God  and  their  fellowmen,  a  privilege  we  certainly  enjoyed. 
But  the  day  that  bade  so  well  in  its  beginning,  was 
made  sad  to  us  'ere  the  noontide  was  reached  by  the 
drowning  of  one  of  Company  K's  men  while  bathing  in  the 
beautiful  clear  stream  a  short  distance  from  camp.  On 
the  following  Sabbath,  the  hour  for  service  was  so  fully 
occupied  by  the  departure  of  the  Third  Battalion  on  a  seven 
days'  outing  and  march,  as  to  prevent  our  holding  any  ser- 
vice, and  the  next  Sabbath  we  were  doomed  to  a  similar 
experience  by  the  return  of  this  battalion  at  the  hour  of 
church.  But,  being  hindered  at  home,  we  assisted  Chaplain 
Given,  of  the  Sixth  Missouri,  one  of  God's  noble,  devoted 
men,  while  on  the  evening  of  this  Sabbath  we  preached  to 
the  nurses  of  the  Second  Division  hospital  in  their  mess 
tent.  During  the  last  week  in  January  we  succeeded  in 
securing  from  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  mana- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  415 

ger  in  the  corps,  a  good  tent  forty  by  sixty  feet,  and 
brought  it  on  the  ground,  but  we  were  still  doomed  to  dis- 
appointment, for  at  every  move  we  found  a  shortage,  in 
rops,  poles,  pegs,  tackles  and  lumber,  while  the  rains  that 
intervened  delayed  the  setting  up  of  our  tabernacle  until 
the  second  week  in  January,  when  a  band  of  volunteers 
from  the  regiment  cheerfully  gave  us  their  assistance,  and 
for  the  first  time  in  its  history,  the  canvas  of  a  gospel  tent 
was  spread  to  the  breeze,  in  the  camp  of  the  Fourth  Illinois 
Volunteers. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Mitchell,  an  efficient  secre- 
tary of  the  Army  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and 
the  aid  of  several  of  the  boys  from  the  regiment,  we  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  it  seated  and  some  conveniences  for  writ- 
ing in  place.  And  on  Sabbath,  February  I2th,  at  9  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  we  had  our  first  service  in  the  tent,  fol- 
lowed by  another  at  7  in  the  evening,  both  of  which  were 
largely  attended,  encouraging  our  hearts  for  the  future. 
But  scarcely  had  we  reached  our  humble  tent  homes  when 
a  strong  wind  from  the  sea  began  to  rush  in  upon  us, 
attended  by  a  heavy  downpour  of  rain  that  betokened 
disaster  to  our  frail  abodes.  For  early  in  the  evening  nature 
had  begun  to  muster  her  cloud  host,  and  continued  it  until 
the  last  star  which  had  thrown  its  flickering  rays  out  through 
the  broken  ranks,  was  hid  back  of  its  threatening  panoply, 
while  the  bright  sheen  of  the  distant  heavens  seemed 
to  be  crouching  away  into  hiding,  before  the  threatening 
array.  Along  with  this  marshaling  of  the  dark  cloud  host 
came  the  low  but  ever  increasing  murmur  of  the  waves  as 
they  moved  out  farther  and  farther  on  the  rock-clad  beach, 
until  what  had  been  to  us  a  murmur  reached  a  crash  and 
roar  of  contending  armies  as  the  wind  whipped  the  gently 
rolling  waves  into  maddened  billows  that  rolled  far  out  and 
broke  upon  the  shore,  scattering  into  mist  and  foam,  to  be 


416  HISTORY    OF    THE 

carried  by  the  furious  storm  and  dropped  like  rain  on  the 
brush  covered  flats  that  border  the  ocean  at  this  point. 

The  storm  continued  to  increase  and  in  a  short  time 
the  moistened  earth  enabled  the  gale  to  draw  the  guy  pegs, 
and  our  gospel  tent  was  hurled-  to  the  ground,  demolish- 
ing lamps  and  seriously  damaging  the  organ,  while  at  the 
same  time  it  gave  the  secretary  a  kindly  warning  by  land- 
ing one  of  the  center  poles  within  a  few  inches  of  his  tent, 
in  which  he  was  seeking  rest. 

But  soldiers  learn  to  make  the  best  of  conditions  and 
therefore  nothing  daunted,  preparations  were  begun  to  set 
it  up  again  as  soon  as  the  gale,  which  continued  through 
Monday  and  Tuesday,  had  subsided,  and  by  Friday  all  was 
put  in  condition  for  use  again,  and  on  that  evening  another 
service  was  held,  conducted  by  Secretary  Mitchell,  who 
was  preparing  to  turn  his  work  over  to  J.  Upton  Evers, 
prior  to  taking  leave  for  his  home  in  the  States.  In 
Brother  Evers  we  found  a  true  Christian  young  man  who 
earnestly  devoted  himself  not  only  to  the  work  directly 
connected  with  the  gospel  tent,  but  also  in  visiting  the 
hospital,  carrying  to  the  sick  stationary,  books,  periodicals 
and  good  cheer,  as  well  also  in  his  private  earnest  appeals 
to  the  boys.  At  the  tent  and  elsewhere  he  impressed  upon 
them  the  importance  of  leading  a  godly  life. 

And  it  is  but  just  we  should  mention  that  after  con- 
siderable effort  and  delay,  William  Newton,  of  company  H, 
was  detailed  as  assistent  secretary,  who  with  Brother  Evers, 
rendered  efficient  and  faithful  service  during  our  stay  at 
Camp  Columbia.  Contrary  to  our  earnest  expectations 
no  services  could  be  held  on  the  ipth  of  February,  on 
account  of  an  order  having  been  issued,  ordering  the  regi- 
ment to  start  on  a  ten  days  march  and  outing  on  that  date. 
Accordingly  everything  was  astir  Sunday  morning  and 
about  9:00  o'clock  the  regiment  marched  out  of  camp  led 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


by  the  band,  followed  by  the  Ninth  Illinois  and  Second 
South  Carolinia,  the  other  two  regiments  of  the  brigade, 
started  on  their  march  to  the  city  of  Guines,  which  is 
located  forty-nine  kilometers  south-east  of  Havana,  and 
distant  from  our  camp  about  thirty-five  miles.  Not  desir- 
ing to  attend  the  regiment  on  Sabbath  morning,  we  secured 
.permission  to  follow  later.  Accordingly  we  started  in  pursuit 
on  Tuesday  at  5:00  in  the  morning,  having  spent  Monday 
hunting  their  trail,  coming  up  to  them  at  4:00  in  the  even- 
ing, just  as  they  were  going  into  camp,  which  we  will  call- 
Camp  Swift,  about  one  mile  beyond  Guines.  We  remained 
with  the  regiment  until  Saturday  at  9:00  in  the  morning 
when  we  left  them  in  camp  at  the  mountain  pass  twenty-five' 
kilometers  from  Havana,  and  came  back  to  our  own  sun-1 
burned,  storm-stained  canvas  house  in  the  midst  of  an 
almost  deserted  quiet  camp.  The  regiment  not  returning 
until  Monday  our  gospel  tent  stood  idle  two  Sabbaths. 
But  on  the  ist  of  March  we  had  our  first  mid-week  meet- 
ing with  good  attendance,  and  on  the  following  Sabbath, 
we  began  a  series  of  meetings,  having  the  help  of  'Chaplain 
Stringfellow  of  the  Fourth  Virginia,  Chaplain  Biederwolf  of 
the  One  Hundred  Sixty-first  Indiana,  and  Chaplain  Given 
of  the  Sixth  Missouri  during  the  week.  Pay  day  coming 
unexpectedly  on  Saturday,  so  broke  in  upon  the  conditions' 
in  camp  as  to  make  it  unadvisable  to  hold  service  on  that 
evening.  But  on  the  day  following  at  9:00  in  the  morning 
we  organized  our  bible  class  and  had  preaching  service 
immediately  afterwards,  while  in  the  evening  Mr.  Evens 
gave  us  a  good  practical  talk.  Up  to  this  time,  twenty- 
five  soldiers  had  signed  the  following  declaration  and 
handed  them  to  the  secretary.  "I  hereby  declare  my 
acceptance  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  my  personal  Savior 
and  my  purpose  by  God's  help  to  live  a  Christian  life." 

27 


41 8  HISTORY    OF    THE 


Name 


Company  and  Regiment- 
Home  address 


Our  band  gave  a  concert  in  the  tent  one  evening  each 
week,  besides  we  had  a  most  thrilling  lecture  by  Chaplain 
Stringfellow  on  his  experience  as  captain  or  chief  of  scouts 
in  the  confederate  army,  also  one  by  Chaplain  Bolton,  of 
the  Second  Illinois,  on  "Something  to  shoot  and  how  to 
shoot  it;"  which  was  a  fine  illustration  of  the  scholarly 
ability  and  oratorical  power  of  one  of  Wisconsin's  ablest  M. 
E.  preachers. 

Through  the  influence  of  General  Secretary  A.  E. 
Moody,  of  the  island  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work,  it  was  our  excep- 
tional good  fortune  to  have  with  us  one  evening  the  gifted 
and  eloquent  Rev.  Sarn  Small,  who  gave  us  one  of  his 
thrilling  characteristic  lectures,  touching  upon  many  phases 
of  life  as  seen  not  only  in  the  army,  but  as  well  in  the  civil, 
political  and  social  relations  of  America.  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
Evanglist  Smith,  of  Chicago,  was  with  us  several  nights 
during  our  last  week  in  Cuba,  and  gave  us  on  each  occasion 
a  sermon  full  of  gospel  meat,  and  rich  in  counsel  and  ad- 
vice to  men.  It  was  his  privilege  to  hold  the  closing  serv- 
ice on  the  night  before  our  departure.  Nor  would  we  neg- 
lect to  refer,  and  that  with  pleasure,  to  the  efficient  and 
effective  aid  rendered  in  our  behalf  by  Sec.  A.  E.  Moody, 
through  whom  we  were  enabled  to  have  our  gospel  tent  and 
its  valuble  supplies,  as  well  also  his  talks  on  themes  fitting 
so  well  the  needs  of  our  regiment.  While  it  may  seem  im- 
proper to  refer  to  our  disappointments,  yet  the  fact  of  our 
hasty  breaking  of  camp  deprived  us  of  the  anticipated  pleas- 
ure of  listening  to  Reverend  Clark,  Father  of  the  Chris- 
tian Endeavor  movement,  who  was  booked  to  address  us  in 
-the  gospel  tent  on  the  evening  of  the  day  we  began  our 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  419 

march  toward  the  home  land.  We  feel  called  upon  to  give 
it  at  least  a  passing  mention.  What  the  result  of  these 
effcrts  will  be,  as  weighed  and  measured  for  eternity,  can- 
not be  estimated  by  finite  minds,  yet  it  is  the  hope  and 
earnest  prayer  of  those  who  have  wrought  therein,  that 
many  of  the  men  who  enjoyed  these  rich  privileges  in  the 
closing  days  of  their  army  life,  will  so  profit  by  them  in  the 
moulding  of  their  lives  as  civilians,  and  the  consecrating  of 
their  hearts  to  God  in  Christ,  as  to  realize  the  wonderful 
cleansing  of  his  precious  blood,  and  a  title  to  the  kingdom 
of  heaven.  Our  regiment  having  been  made  up  from  so 
large  a  portion  of  our  state  and  even  beyond  its  bor- 
ders, necessarily  gathered  in  from  the  "good,  bad  and 
indifferent,"  morally;  yet  not  more  striking  in  this  respect 
than  those  with  which  it  was  thrown,  in  the  corps  organiza- 
tion. Yet  judging  from  the  facts  apparent  on  the  sur- 
face, the  family  having  the  largest  representation  in  our 
organization,  being  found  in  every  company,  was  the  popular 
"  crap  "  family.  Nor  were  they  enlisted  men  only,  but  even 
in  the  corral  and  cook  shack,  and  some  of  very  sombre  hue, 
this  family  can  claim  as  its  membership.  Besides  not  a  few 
have  gotten  well  up  the  line  under  shoulder  straps.  But  in 
the  main  they  can  be  said  to  be  a  pretty  fair  sort  of  people, 
measuring  up  to  the  highest  average  of  social  life  in  that 
section  of  the  state  from  which  they  came,  and  to  the  strata 
of  society  to  which  the  various  grades  and  hues  of  color 
belong.  Still  it  is  with  pain  of  heart  we  feel  called  upon 
as  a  chronicler  of  the  truth  to  refer  to  the  fact  of  the  de- 
moralizing prevalence  of  profanity  and  other  forms  of  sin 
that  became  notorious;  and  often  under  the  erroneous  idea 
that  almost  any  sin  was  condonned  by  being  a  soldier.  Still 
there  were  grand  and  noble  exceptions  in  all  these  grada- 
tions, of  true  men,  who  like  the  sturdy  oak  or  enduring 
granite  withstood  this  storm  and  rushing  torrent  of  sin  and 


42O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

degradation,  maintaining  an  equilibrium  of  manly  character 
worthy  of  record. 

With  song  service  and  expository  talks  on  portions  of 
scripture,  we  endeavored  to  give  the  boys  of  the  Fourth  and 
the  First  Division  Hospital  Corp  during  our  stay  in  Cuba 
that  which  we  trust  will  prove  a  blessing  as  well  as  a  pleas- 
ure to  them,  and  be  looked  back  upon  by  them  as  a  bright 
oasis  in  their  army  experiences.  That  the  boys  appreciated 
the  gospel  tent  with  its  supply  of  books,  tracts,  papers, 
writing  material  and  innocent  games,  was  proven  by  the 
large  crowds  that  commonly  filled  all  the  large  tables  dur- 
ing the  hours  of  the  day  when  not  on  duty  in  the  camp  or 
on  the  drill  ground,  and  as  an  evidence  of  the  amount  of 
writing  done  there,  ten  thousand  sheets  of  paper  and  a  cor- 
responding number  of  envelopes  would  supply  the  demand 
only  about  two  or  three  weeks,  showing  also  the  expense 
connected  with  this  excellent  branch  of  Christian  work. 


ADENDA. 

In  presenting  a  few  miscellaneous  illustrations,  in- 
directly connected  with  the  history  of  this  regiment,  it  may 
be  well  also  to  give  a  brief  description  of  them  and  their 
surroundings,  that  the  reader  may  get  a  clearer  idea  con- 
cerning their  beauty  and  utility,  or  their  opposite. 

We  will  first  ask  the  reader  to  go  with  us  into  the  land 
so  recently  brought  under  the  control  of  the  United  States 
as  the  scenes  of  this  strange  land  will  doubtless  be  of  much 
interest. 

Much  that  we  have  heard  about  the  great  Cuban  army 
dims  into  a  shadow  when  we  confront  the  real,  as  we 
meet  it  in  its  own  land  and  measure  it  by  what  we  see.  We 
present  herewith  a  picture  of  a  few  of  these  brave  warriors 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


421 


1 


SPECIMENS    OF     THE    CUBAN    ARMY. 

in  one  of  their  "posts,"  viz.:  the  porch  of  a  wayside  resi- 
dence and  grocery.  The  general  appearance  and  equip- 
ment is  not  such  as  to  strike  terror  home  to  the  heart  of  an 
American  soldier.  They  ordinarly  lack  that  manly  bearing 
on  duty,  so  characteristic  of  the  more  highly  enlightened 
races. 

In  connection  with  this  we  insert  a  cut  representing 
one  and  a  portion  of  two  others  of  a  row  of  seventeen 
tents  occupied  by  the  warriors  of  the  isle.  Rude  and 
simple  in  their  construction,  being  built  with  a  few  posts 
set  in  the  ground  and  ridge  or  roof  poles  placed  thereon, 
and  over  these  the  long  fern  like  leaves  of  the  royal  palm 
are  placed,  with  points  to  the  eves,  sufficiently  thick  to  turn 
the  rains. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


423 


In  connection  with  these  the  sheath  of  these  same 
leaves,  that  surround  the  body  of  the  tree,  are  spread  out, 
making  a  large  surface,  often  from  eight  to  twelve  feet: 
These,  like  the  leaves,  are  used  both  for  roofing  and  weath- 
er-boarding. The  simplicity  of  this  construction  does  away 
with  the  expense  of  nails,  as  thongs  made  from  the  inner 
bark  of  these  sheathes  are  used  to  tie  them  in  their  places. 
The  Cuban  soldier  in  one  sense  is  quite  an  inexpensive 
luxury. 

In  contrast  with  these  one  meets  on  almost  every  hill 
top  in  proximity  with  Havana,  the  famous  barbed  wire 


BARB    WIRE    DEFENSE. 


barricade,  used  by  our  Spanish  neighbors  as  an  outer  de- 
fense of  their  fort,  against  this  formidable  Cuban  army. 
While  our  illustration  is  a  good  one  it  cannot  reveal  the 


424  HISTORY    OF    THE 

real  strength  of  these  barricades.  They  are  often  ten.  to 
twenty  feet  wide  and  so  thickly  woven  and  interwoven  as 
to  make  an  American  soldier  prefer  a  stone  wall  or  earth 
works,  if  he  is  to  do  the  storming  of  the  enemy  that  lurks 
behind. 

The  posts  to  which  these  wires  are  fastened  are  so 
arranged  that  but  few  of  the  many  wires,  have  a  run  of 
more  than  two  or  three  feet,  while  to  go  through,  one 
would  have  to  cut  from  1 50  to  200  of  these  twisted  barbed 
strands  in  two  places,  which  would  be  more  than  a  few 
minutes  job,  and  while  he  was  working  away,  deliberately 
or  otherwise,  the  fellow  inside  would  have  a  fine  mark  on 
which  to  train  his  trusty  rifle.  If  he  were  asleep  or  whiling 
away  the  time  at  a  game  of  cards, .  and  the  click  of  wire 
cutters  did  not  attract  his  attention,  the  strong  hold  might 
be  taken  with  only  the  loss  of  blood  that  flowed  from 
scratched  hands.  But  that  was  not  Uncle  Sam's  way  of 
doing  things. 

He  kept  at  a  respectable  distance  and  dropped  a  few 
shells  just  beyond  the  wire  fence,  until  the  other  fellow 
evacuated  and  then  went  in  through  the  gate,  and  saved 
the  barbed  wire  for  the  free  Cuban  to  fence  his  farm. 

All  through  the  interior  of  the  island  at  every  turn  in  the 
road,  and  if  these  were  too  far  apart,  built  in  the  road  and 
on  commanding  hills,  the  eye  catches  the  familiar  block- 
house, another  of  the  time-worn  Spanish  defenses. 

We  here  show  a  very  good  cut  of  one  of  these.  In  their 
day  good  protectors  against  rifle  bullets,  but  in  this  day  of 
improved  guns  our  bullets  would  only  get  well  heated  in 
passing  through  one  of  these,  for  searing  the  hole  it  would 
make  through  the  body  of  its  victim,  lying  concealed  be- 
hind these  walls  of  brick.  Sometimes  they  are  con- 
structed of  stone,  and  we  have  seen  them  in  the  interior,  of 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


425 


BLOCK     HOUSE. 

frame  weatherboarded  with  the  shell  or  outer  surface  of 
the  royal  palm,  sheathed  with  the  same  on  the  inside,  and 
filled  between  the  studings  with  dirt  and  small  stones. 
These  were  built  in  various  shapes,  yet  easily  distinguished 
from  other  buildings  by  the  port  holes  so  in  evidence. 

Along  with  these  properly  come  the  people  of  this,  to 
us,  strange  country,  with  some  of  their  time-honored  cus- 
toms. It  is  truly  a  mixed  race,  with  perhaps  the  race  line 
distinction  a  little  less  sharply  drawn  than  in  our  own  land, 
yet  a  people,  who,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  are  con- 
tented and  happy,  with  no  little  degree  of  the  climatic  de- 
sire for  rest,  ever  nagging  at  them.  Many  of  their  customs 
and  ideas  are  of  an  antiquated  type,  or  rather  they  still  live 
in  the  centuries  of«the  past.  Hence,  with  one  of  the  most 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


427 


A    CUBAN    PLOWING. 

beautiful  lands,  and  on  which  nature  has  bestowed  with  a 
lavish  hand,  we  meet  with  the  old  wooden  plow  of  the  type 
used  in  the  age  of  Moses,  with  a  few  slight  improvements, 
while  the  faithful  ox,  who  has  caught  the  rest  fever  also, 
is  persuaded  on  in  his  task  with  the  goad  as  of  yore.  Still 
in  spite  of  these  antiquated  tools  and  methods,  nature  pro- 
duces in  rich  abundance. 


The  tandem  teams  are  at  first  a  strange  sight  to  the 
American,  but,  like  all  the  odities  in  this  land,  one  with 
which  he  soon  becomes  familiar.  From  two  to  eight  mules 
or  ponies,  weighing  from  five  to  eight  hundred  pounds,  are 
one  of  the  common  sights  on  the  fine  military  roads;  while 
the  immense  carts,  weighing  often  much  more  than  our 


428 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


TANDEM    TEAM    ON    MILITARY    ROAD. 


'GEORGIA    OX    CART. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


429 


common  wagons,  and  the  correspondingly  large  loads,  are 
in  great  contrast  with  the  teams. 

One  chief  reason  for  the  two  wheeled  vehicles  being  so 
commonly  used  here  is,  the  system  of  taxing  vehicles  per 
wheel,  and  another  is  the  greater  ease  with  which  the  team 
can  draw  the  same  amount  of  weight  than  when  on  a  four 
wheeled  vehicle.  But  we  need  not  go  beyond  the  borders 
of  our  own  fair  land  to  see  conditions  and  things  of  the 
antiquated  type  as  our  picture  of  an  ox  cart  reveals,  and 
which  is  not  an  uncommon  sight  in  that  section  of  Georgia 
where  our  camps  were  located. 

In  striking  contrast  with  the  fine  mansions  with  their 
open  courts  and  gardens,  filled  with  nature's  richest  bloom 
and  tinted  foliage,  is  that  of  the  residences  of  the  lower 


THATCHED    HUT. 


430 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


class  in  the  country  and  oft  in  the  suburbs  of  the  cities, 
which  is  only  a  thatched  hut.  The  one  here  pictured  to 
the  reader  is  a  good  specimen,  and  stood  on  the  border  of 
Camp  Columbia.  Over  the  common  pole  frame,  made  by 
tying  one  pole  to  another,  the  long  palm  leaves  are  tied  to 
constitute  a  roof,  while  the  leaf  sheath  is  spread  out  and 
tied  to  the  wall  frame  perpendicularly  for  siding. 

These  abodes  form  the  homes,  very  often,  for  more 
than  the  family,  for  dogs,  pigs,  fowls,  fleas  and,  well,  the 
so  forth,  all  abide  under  the  same  roof. 

Just  across  the  road  from  this  hut,  and  hard  by  one  of 
the  Spanish  fortifications,  seen  in  the  background,  stood 


HANGMAN  S    TREE. 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  431 

one  of  the  peculiar  tress  of  this  island,  and  which  had  ac- 
quired the  title  of  hangman's  tree,  from  the  fact,  as  we 
were  told,  that  on  its  projecting  limb  some  seventy-five  or 
eighty  persons  had  been  hung  during  the  wars  of  Spain 
and  Cuba.  ft 

As  to  the  truth  or  falsity  of  the  statement  we  do  not 
vouch,  but  it  gave  to  this  tree  a  notoriety  that  cost  it  its 
life,  and  removal  from  its  long  occupied  place.  Little  by 
little  had  the  soldier's  knife,  saw,  hatchet  and  other  tools 
cut  away  small  pieces,  until  it  was  near  the  point  of  fall- 
ing, when  one  evening  about  10  o'clock,  just  before  the 
Seventh  Army  Corps  broke  camp  for  the  home  trip,  the 
moon  not  failing  nature  in  her-brightest  robes,  a  lieutenant 
and  the  writer  returning  from  a  ride  up  the  beach,  came 
by  just  as  a  little  group  of  bluecoats  assembled  to  look  very 
closely  at  the  deep  scar  in  its  trunk, — that  is  all  they  were 
doing  as  we  passed,  and  not  a  tool  for  cutting  was  in  sight, 
but  lo  the  next  morning  saw  only  the  haggled  top  of  a 
stump  to  perpetuate  the  shame  of  that  spot. 

But  more  and  larger  souvenirs  of  the  hangman's  tree 
were  on  exhibition  in  certain  parts  of  the  corps  in  a  day  or 
two,  than  ever  before. 

Something  of  the  governmental  preparation  to  meet 
all  the  necessary  demands  that  fall  upon  it  in  supplying  the 
Army  of  Occupation  in  Cuba,  may  be  gathered  from  a  mini- 
ature view  of  her  immense  quartermasters  store  house, 
located  at  Quemados,  within  the  bounds  of  Camp  Colum- 
bia. 

While  the  waiting  wagon  train  indicates  something  of 
the  demands  that  were  made  upon  this,  one  of  the  most 
important,  laborious  and  difficult  branches  of  work  con- 
nected with  the  army. 


432 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


QUARTERMASTER  S    STORE    HOUSE,   QUEMADOS. 


Among  the  revered  landmarks  of  the  city  of  Havana 
is  that  of  "The  Cathedral,"  a  view  of  the  interior  of  which 
is  here  given,  and  which  needs  but  little  description.  At 
the  bottom  left  hand  corner  a  portion  of  "the  tomb  of  Co- 
lumbus," the  corner  from  which  the  marble  slabs  that 
form  the  slanting  wall,  were  removed  to  gain  access  to  the 
remains  of  the  once  dishonored  discoverer,  and  from  which 
it  is  generally  believed  his  dust  was  taken  lest  it  be  dishon- 
ored by  the  "  uncultured  Americans." 

We  never  saw  anyone  but  monks  or  priests  at  worship 
in  this  sacred  place,  which  was  open  every  afternoon. 

Passing  just  beyond  the  northwest  limit  of  the  city  we 
came  to  the  Cristobol  Colon  cemetery,  one  of  the  most 


INTERIOR    OF    THE    CATHEDRAL. 


28 


434  HISTORY    OF    THE 

beautiful  and  at  the  same  time  loathsome  burial  places  of 
the  world.  Its  gateway,  monuments,  tombs,  catacombs, 
and  public  buildings,  are  certainly  not  often  excelled.  The 
monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  the  firemen  who  lost 
their  lives  in  a  heroic  struggle  against  the  flames  that 
threatened  the  city  some  years  since,  is  said  to  be  one  of 
three  that  stand  as  competitors  for  rank  as  the  grandest  in 
the  world. 

But  while  one-half  of  this  large  enclosure  charms  you 
with  its  beauty  and  richness,  the  other  half  is  equally 
loathsome. 

In  the  northwest  corner  of  the  main  ground,  which  is 
enclosed  by  a  high,  strong  stone  wall,  is  found  another 
wall,  less  defiant,  yet  some  8  feet  high,  and  100  by  130 
feet  square,  with  its  enclosure  excavated  in  the  limestone 
rock  35  feet  deep,  and  which  is  filled  to  a  little  above  the 
level  of  the  surface  with  the  bleached  bones  of  human 
beings.  This  is  the  "human  boneyard  "  of  an  inhuman 
people.  We  here  give  a  cut  of  it — one  of  the  most  shock- 
ing scenes  in  this  lovely  land. 

The  dimensions  of  this  awful  tomb  we  cannot  vouch 
for,  but  received  them  from  one  who  claimed  to  have  got- 
ten the  facts.  But  as  to  the  millions  of  skeletons  said  to 
rest  (i.  e. ,  until  bluecoats  began  to  seek  for  skulls,  cross 
bones,  teeth,  etc.,  to  carry  home  as  mementos)  in  this 
vast  grave  are  so  great  that  we  do  not  venture  to  repeat  it 
as  a  fact. 

But  hard  to  believe  as  this  is  to  some,  still  more  shock- 
ing is  what  leads  to  the  filling  of  this  pit  with  human  bones, 
viz. :  That  of  the  burial  tax  which  the  ruling  church  power 
of  that  island  has  been  collecting  for  years.  The  sum  ex- 
acted is  so  great  that  only  a  portion  of  the  poor  can  meet 
it,  and  that  only  for  a  few,  perhaps  five  years,  the  shortest 
period,  we  are  told,  for  which  it  is  collected. 


M'.kft&j*^  ••< 


T  ,     - 


ttik*»     \VT    -V  '    ' 


436  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Such  are  ordinarily  placed  in  the  grave  in  an  almost 
nude  state  and  lime  thrown  on  the  body  and  covered  a  few 
inches  deep  with  dirt,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  tax 
period  the  bleached  bones  are  exhumed  and  borne  in  bas- 
kets to  the  "  bone-yard."  Sometimes  it  happens  that  these 
large,  double-decked,  poor  man's  hearses,  containing  two 
trays  to  the  deck,  come  in  with  four  occupants,  and  the 
trays  are  taken  out  one  at  a  time,'  laid  at  the  edge  of  the 
grave,  and  then  turned  over,  dumping  its  contents  into  the 
grave;  the  liming  is  attended  to  and  another  treated  in  the 
same  way,  until,  as  we  have  been  told  by  eye  witnesses, 
ten  bodies  had  been  thus  roughly  dumped  into  one  grave, 
when  a  thin  covering  of  dirt  was  thrown  upon  them. 

But  another,  we  suppose  poorer  class,  are  hauled 
directly  to  a  kind  of  morgue  at  the  center  of  the  south  wall 
of  the  cemetery,  where  the  bodies  are  placed  on  tables  and 
subjected  to  a  process  of  liming  which  soon  prepares  the 
bones  for  bleaching  in  the  common  grave  of  the  poor.  In 
the  less  pretentious  burial  grounds  of  this  land,  all  of  which 
are  strongly  walled,  the  bones  are  usually  thrown  in  a  pile 
in  one  corner,  and  the  writer  has  seen  various  bones  of  the 
human  body  that  the  dogs  or  buzzards  had  carried  into  the 
road  beyond  the  rocked  enclosure.  But  the  time  of  this 
uncivilized,  unchristian  practice  we  believe  is  past. 

Before  our  departure  from  this  lovely  land,  the  United 
States  authorities  had  required  the  covering  of  the  "bone 
yard  "  with  earth,  as  a  sanitary  measure. 

Thus,  while  the  rich  man's  body  is  borne  away  in  all 
the  splendor  of  liveried  coachmen,  with  their  gorgeously 
decked  "four-in-hand,"  and  costly  gilded  hearse,  to  his 
last  resting  place  on  which  a  perpetual  tax  is  arranged  for, 
his  neighbor  is  treated  little  if  any  better  than  the  domestic 
animals  of  our  country. 

It  was  in  the  better  part  of  this  noted  cemetery  that,  on 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  437 

the  1 7th  day  of  February,  1 898,  nineteen  bodies  of  the  brave 
men  who  died  in  their  quarters  in  the  ill-fated  Maine,  were 
interred;  and  later  others  were  laid  by  their  side  until  more 
than  fifty  bodies  of  those  noble  seamen  had  found  their  last 
resting  place  in  the  soil  of  this  sacred  enclosure,  where 
only  a  simple  cross  bearing  these  words,  "Victims  of  the 
Maine,"  mark  their  last  resting  place. 

As  this  is  in  so  great  contrast  with  the  gorgeous  sur- 
roundings, already  a  movement  is  on  foot  to  erect  a  suit- 
able monument  in  place  of  the  wooden  one  that  now 
points  the  American  to  the  spot,  most  dear  to  him  of  all  he 
here  looks  upon. 

In  passing  from  these  scenes  of  this  newly  conquered 
Spanish  province,  we  wish  to  call  attention  to  an  aged 
burying  place  of  our  own  land,  and  one  indirectly  connected 
with  the  history  of  this  as  well  as  other  regiments  of  the 
Seventh  Army  Corps. 

It  is  "Bonaventure,"  which  is  located  a  short  distance 
from  the  city  limits  of  Savannah,  Ga.  This  is  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  noted  burial  places  in  the  United  States, 
and  at  the  same  time  one  connected  by  very  important 
links  with  the  early  history  of  the  "  Sunny  South." 

We  perhaps  cannot  do  better  in  describing  this  beau- 
tiful and  historic  place  than  to  insert,  by  permission,  a 
short  extract  from  the  "  History  of  the  i6ist  Indiana 
Volunteer  Infantry,"  in  which  Chaplain  Biederwolf  says: 
''Bonaventure  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
cemeteries  in  America,  and  the  history  and  romance  con- 
nected with  it  makes  it  doubly  interesting;  the  estate,  first 
owned  in  colonial  times  by  an  English  nobleman,  was 
sold  to  John  Mulryn,  whose  only  daughter  was  given  in 
marriage  to  Josiah  Tatnall  and  the  union  was  typified  by 
planting  those  now  aged  and  hoary  live  oaks  in  a  mono- 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


439 


BONAVENTURE    CEMETERY. 

gram,  comprising  the  letters  'M'  and  'T'  still  trace- 
able in  the  shape  of  the  sylvan  aisles  between  the  stately 
trees.  Josiah  Tatnell  was  a  great  soldier,  serving  in  the 
wars  of  1812  and  of  1846,  and  was  commander  of  the 
Merrimac  in  its  battle  with  the  Monitor. 

' '  He  became  governor  of  Georgia,  and  lies  buried  to- 
day in  Bonaventure,  near  the  spot  of  his  birth.  The  place 
is  full  of  sacred  associations  and  its  gigantic  trees,  hung 
with  their  long  heavy  moss  tresses,  seem  to  speak  of 
mourning  and  weeping." 

The  cut  we  give  but  tamely  represents  the  scene  as 
viewed  in  its  real  beauty.  The  long  bunches  of  gray  moss 
that  hang  from  almost  every  bough,  like  the  tresses  of  some 


44°  HISTORY    OF    THE 

fair  lady  gracefully  floating  under   the   sway  of  the  gentle 
evening  zephyr,  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated. 

Passing  from  these  scenes  in  the  home  of  the  dead  it 
will  be  a  relief  to  look  upon  and  contemplate  something 
closely  identified  with  life  and  its  sweetest  pleasures.  The 
city  of  Havana,  though  beautifully  situated,  and  charm- 
ing in  its  surroundings,  yet  was  seriously  marred  as  a  place 
to  live  on  account  of  the  scant  supply  of  pure  water.  And 
while  Cuba  has  an  abundance  of  this  article,  and  of  the 
finest  quality,  its  unequal  distribution  leaves  many  charm- 
ing localities  destitute,  save  the  streams  that  flow  through 
the  crevices  of  the  rock  far  below  the  surface. 

To  meet  the  needs  of  Havana  city,  the  idea  was  con- 
ceived of  conveying  water  into  it  through  aqueducts  from 
the  limpid  streams  in  the  country.  After  several  partially 
successful  attempts,  the  present  system,  or  aqueducts  of 
the  Vento,  was  begun  as  recent  as  1859,  with  a  view  of  se- 
curing an  ample  supply  from  the  inexhaustible  Vento  spring, 
one  of  the  many  fountains  of  this  country  that  sends  out  a 
small  river  from  its  mouth.  Vento  spring  is  some  eight 
miles  south  of  the  city,  near  the  hills,  and  on  the  very 
margin  of  the  clear,  rapid  flowing  Almandares  river,  and 
yet  sufficiently  elevated  above  the  sea  to  need  only  the 
force  of  gravitation  to  carry  it  through  the  immense  arti- 
ficial channel  that  ascends  the  little  hills  and  descends  into 
the  plains,  always  just  below  the  surface  of  the  long  stretch 
of  country,  that  lies  between  the  fountain  and  the  city. 

Though  the  present  appliance  has  cost  the  magnificent 
sum  of  over  three  millions  of  dollars,  it  is  far  from  being 
completed  according  to  original  plans,  but  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  aqueduct  of  Ferdinand  II,  proving  itself 
adequate  to  the  demands  of  the  city,  and  even  more.  For 
the  United  States  government  tapped  this  stream  at  the 


B 


O 
CD 


442  HISTORY    OF    THE 

reservoir,  a  mile  south  of  the  city,  and  by  means  of  large 
water  pipes  conveyed  a  sufficient  quantity  of  this  pure  lim- 
pid flow  a  distance  of  some  five  miles,  to  supply  the  entire 
demand  of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps.  Not  having  sufficient 
pressure  for  flushing  purposes,  after  its  long  run  through  a 
cramped  artificial  channel,  an  immense  tank  22  x  24  feet 
was  erected  on  a  frame  work,  thirty  feet  high,  at  the  head- 
quarters of  our  regiment,  the  fate  of  which  is  referred  to  on 
page  329.  The  added  pressure  from  the  tank  erected  in  its 
place  sends  the  water  with  great  force  to  the  remotest  por- 
tions of  the  camp,  and  flushes  the  sewer  pipes,  which  enter 
the  sea  some  four  miles  distant.  To  attempt  an  ade- 
quate description  of  this  wonderful  spring  would  consume 
too  much  space;  suffice  to  say  that  the  spring  rises  through 
an  opening  in  the  bottom  of  a  large  deep  basin,  constructed 
of  masonry,  as  seen  in  the  accompanying  cut.  From  this 
the  water  enters  the  aqueduct,  which  is  constructed  of  brick 
and  cement,  over  which  at  regular  intervals  of  about  two 
hundred  yards  are  erected  small  houses  from  six  to  ten  feet 
square,  inside  of  which  are  man  holes  opening  into  the  aqu- 
duct  for  purposes  of  repairing  damages  that  mi^ht  accrue 
to  the  aqueduct,  with  the  least  possible  delay.  It  may  be 
said  that  these  houses  or  towers  are  kept  securely  locked 
and  often  inspected.  Rumor  had  it  that  General  Lee's 
plan  of  capturing  the  city  of  Havana  was,  to  get  back  of  it 
and  cut  off  the  water  supply  from  this  spring,  and  thus 
force  their  surrender.  As  to  the  truth  of  this  plan  we  are 
not  prepared  to  say,  not  having  consulted  the  General 
about  it,  as  we  suppose  the  originators  of  the  rumor  did  not 
either.  But  don't  think  for  a  moment  the  forces  of  Spain 
were  asleep  to  the  importance  of  this  point. 

Our  foot  ball  team  needs  no  introduction  or  elaborate 
"  write  up,"  as  the  manly  appearance  of  its  men  tell  of  its 


444 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


fitness  to  achieve  honor  in  its  line.  We  number  and  name 
them  for  easy  recognition  by  their  friends,  i  Sergt.  R. 
H.  Barton,  Company  C;  2  Corp.  O.  P.  Louden,  Company 
C;  3  Corp.  Fred  H.  Hays,  Company  M;  4  Bert  Railsback, 
Company  M;  5  Musician  W.  T.  Mather,  Company  L;  6 
W.  O.  Wallace,  Company  D;  7  C.  L.  Golden,  Company 
M;  8  Corp.  W.  McKnight;  9  Roy  Harris,  Company  M;  10 
L.  C.  Baker,  Company  M;  n  Corp.  O.  Kaufman,  Com- 
pany L;  12  F.  Cady,  Company  M;  13  J.  Eckenrode,  Com- 
pany L;  14  J.  Kaser,  Company  L;  15  H.  Balding,  Com- 
pany L;  16  Lieut  T.  F.  Louden,  Company  C;  17  C.  Har- 
mon, Company  L;  18  H.  Bundy,  Company  M. 


A    GRAYBACK. 

While  perhaps  there  are  but  few  who  have  not  heard 
of  that  pestiferous  little  tickler,  the  "  grayback,"  yet  doubt- 
less the  multitude  have  never  seen  him.  Therefore,  we 
have  thought  it  proper,  since  we  cannot  introduce  him  in 
person  to  the  reader,  never  having  had  the  pleasure  of 
looking  upon  him  ourselves,  to  do  the  next  best  thing  to  it, 
viz:  to  present  to  you  a  picture  of  his  grayback-ship.  And 
if  you  are  blest  with  a  strong  imaginative  faculty,  you  will 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  445 

be  able  to  discern  the  familliar  letters  U.  S.  that  you  have 
so  often  heard  spoken  of,  clearly  outlined  on  his  back,  even 
though  he  may  be  of  the  Cuban  species. 

While  this  cut  is  very  much  enlarged,  yet  doubtless  it 
does  not  present  him  any  larger  than  you  would  suppose 
him  to  be,  if  he  were  engaged  in  a  flank  movement,  or 
making  some  strategtic  turn  in  order  to  appropriate  a  por- 
tion of  the  vital  fluids  of  your  system,  or  perhaps  on  a 
double  time  movement  seeking  out  a  safe  retreat  from  a 
pursuing  ringer,  in  some  near  by  seam  of  your  trousers. 

We  are  indebted  to  private  Hallie  Brown,  of  Montcello, 
Indiana,  an  ex-mernber  of  Company  I.  One  Hundred  Sixty- 
first  Indiana  Volunteers,  who  made  the  pen  drawing,  from 
a  photograph  of  his  verminship,  from  which  this  etching 
was  produced;  also  to  his  father,  E.  R.  Brown,  for  the 
privilege  to  use  it  in  this  volume.  If  any  soldier  fails  to 
recognize  this  his  camp  friend,  it  certainly  will  be  because 
he  is  a  "  tender  foot  "  or  novice  in  army  camp  life,  or  be- 
cause the  enlarged  condition  of  his  "  bugship  "  brings  out 
strongly  so  many  of  his  commonly  unseen  delicate  features, 
as  to  conceal  his  identity.  "But  it's  his  bugship  just  the 
same." 

As  "variety  is  the  spice  of  life,"  we  deem  it  prudent 
to  add  a  little  to  this  volume  by  sandwiching  an  address 
delivered  at  Vandalia  on  the  occasion  of  the  reception  of 
Company  I,  on  its  return  from  Cuba,  by  comrade  George 
Cheney,  a  private  in  that  company. 

ADDRESS. 

Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies,  Gentlemen  and  Friends: 

A  darkey  preacher  once  visited  a  conference  of  his  Meth- 
odist white  brethren.  As  the  sole  representative  of  his  race 
present,  he  was  called  upon  for  an  address.  He  arose  and 


446  HISTORY    OF    THE 

said:  "My  dear  brethren,  I  feel  very  much  like  a  huckle- 
berry in  a  bowl  of  milk."  I  opine  that  my  present  feel- 
ings are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  colored  orator. 

Nevertheless,  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  express  to 
you  the  sincere  appreciation  and  deep  gratitude  which  we 
feel  for  this  sumptuous  banquet  and  hospitable  reception 
which  you  have  accorded  us.  But  mere  words  cannot  ex- 
press the  depth  and  intensity  of  the  emotions  which  agitate 
our  hearts  on  this  occasion  of  our  reunion  with  families, 
friends  and  neighbors.  Far  more  eloquent  and  expressive 
than  mere  words  is  the  joy  that  beams  from  the  eye,  and 
the  gratitude  that  trembles  in  the  voice. 

Yet  the  feelings  of  joy  and  happiness  are  not  un- 
mingled  with  those  of  sadness  and  sorrow,  for  we  are  not 
all  here.  Hall,  Ryan,  Smith,  McLaren, — our  eyes  seek 
for  them  in  vain.  They  have  crossed  the  stream  of  silvery 
sheen,  and  pitched  their  tents  on  the  further  bank  of  the 
River  of  Life.  They  have  joined  the  band  of  immortal 
patriots  on  the  other  shore  and  wait  and  beckon  for  those 
who  survive. 

Citizens  of  Vandalia,  one  year  has  flown  to  the  dim 
regions  of  eternity  since  our  nation  stood  on  the  verge  of 
a  great  international  struggle.  The  ominous  muttenngs 
of  an  approaching  storm  were  heard  and  the  dark  waters 
and  thick  clouds  of  war  had  obscured  the  heavenly  light  of 
peace.  The  angry  lightning  of  public  indignation  painted 
the  war  cloud  a  lurid  hue  and  the  angry  voice  of  public 
protest  rolled  along  the  national  horizon  in  thunder  peals. 
All  felt  that  a  struggle  was  inevitable.  The  spirit  voices 
calling  from  the  dark  waters  of  Havana  harbor,  the  prayers 
of  the  widows,  and  the  cries  of  the  orphans  had  ascended 
to  the  judgment  seat  of  a  long  suffering  God,  who  ordained 
that  a  nation  whose  beacon  light  was  liberty,  fraternity, 
equality,  whose  might  was  equal  to  its  will,  whose  mercy 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  447 

was  equal  to  its  wrath,  whose  judgment  was  sure  and 
whose  vengence  was  swift,  should  deliver  the  beautiful  cap- 
tive from  the  cruel  hand  of  the  tyrant  robber  and  assassin. 

A  short  but  terrible  struggle  was  anticipated.  Many 
prophesied  that  our  peerless  navy  would  be  swept  from  the 
sea;  that  our  inexperienced  regulars  and  untrained  volun- 
teers would  meet  swift  defeat.  We  deceived  ourselves 
miserably.  But  with  these  forebodings  in  their  mind,  the 
sons  of  freedom,  true  to  their  teachings  and  inheritance, 
rallied  to  the  battle  cry  of  freedom,  offering  their  lives  on 
the  altar  of  patriotism,  a  cheerful  sacrifice  for  the  defense 
of  an  oppressed  and  struggling  people  and  of  the  honor  of 
their  country. 

Obedient  to  the  summons  of  the  alarm  bells  of  war, 
the  boys  of  Company  I,  with  rifles  glinting  in  the  sunlight, 
marched  proudly  away  to  the  noise  of  drum  and  cymbal, 
fife  and  trumpet,  with  visions  of  the  awful  grandeur  of  war 
floating  before  their  excited  imagination,  and  now  having 
done  all  that  opportunity  permitted,  they  have  returned 
with  the  blossoms  of  spring — a  badly  disappointed,  a  sad- 
der and  a  wiser  set — the  "bottle"  scarred  veterans  and 
heroes  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dress  parades  and  twenty- 
five  reviews. 

Not  long  had  we  been  from  home  before  we  learned 
the  truth  of  Sherman's  aphorism.  It  wasn't  all  music  and 
hallelujah,  hip  and  hurrah  boys,  well  wishes  and  God 
speed  you's,  chicken  sandwiches,  pies  and  cakes  from  home, 
dress  parade,  reviews  and  marches  before  cheering  thous- 
ands and  pretty  girls  with  tears  in  their  eyes. 

It  was  a  deal  of  mud  and  dirt,  weary  hips,  monoto- 
nous drills,  rice  that  rattled  as  it  went  down,  beef  that 
looked  as  though  it  wanted  to  hook  into  the  gravy  in  which 
you  couldn't  stick  a  fork,  and  to  which  the  boys  used  to 
say: 


44^  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Oh,  steer  !  oh,  steer  !  why  are  you  here  ? 
You've  served  long  years  of  toil  and  abuse, 
And  now  you're  here  for  the  poor  soldiers'  use. 

Hard  skirmishes  with  live  hardtack  'til  Tom  Curry, 
much  averse  to  anything  like  labor,  told  us  to  break  the 
tack  in  two,  find  which  way  they  were  going,  then  put 
their  heads  together  and  let  'em  push.  Painful  meetings 
with  old  friends  in  the  form  of  canned  beef,  so-called,  of 
Alger  fame.  We  wept  as  we  paused  irresolute  and  con- 
templated the  tragic  trick  of  old  Mike  or  Tom.  Uncle 
Sam:  We'll  never  forgive  thee,  giving  us  our  old  family 
"  hoss  "  to  eat. 

We  also  learned  what  it  meant  to  be  the  first  man 
with  two  in  a  bed  and  three  in  the  middle. 

Despite  the  hardships  of  the  first  days  in  a  military 
camp  we  were  devoted  to  our  duties  and  tried  hard  to 
become  strictly  military.  Some  mighty  queer  tactics  were 
executed  in  the  verdant  days  of  our  apprenticeship.  Most 
of  them  were  put  into  execution  along  the  guard  lines. 
Guard  mount  was  in  the  evening  and  the  sentinels  were 
instructed  to  challenge  all  persons  seen  on  or  near  their  posts 
at  night.  When  day  arrived  and  the  sun  began  his  journey 
across  the  heavens,  the  faithful  sentinels,  still  obedient  to 
their  instructions,  halted  everything  in  sight.  When  the 
relief  came  around  the  sentinel  calmly  pacing  his  post, 
became  suddenly  startled,  (he'd  only  seen  them  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  away)  and  challenged.  Halt !  Who's  there  ? 
Corporal  with  the  relief.  Advance  corporal  with  the  relief 
and  be  recognized. 

Nevertheless  one  had  to  strictly  understand  his  busi- 
ness in  order  to  get  across  those  lines.  One  night  Gov- 
ernor Tanner  attempted  to  cross  the  lines  but  was  promptly 
halted.  Said  he  "  It's  all  right,  I'm  Governor."  -"I  don't 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  449 

give  a  cuss,"  said  Cy,  "  if  you're  the  shade  of  Julius  Qesar, 
you  can't  get  across  this  post."  But  there  was  a  way  to 
get  across.  The  way  to  a  soldier's  heart  is  through  his 
stomach,  and  it  is  a  mighty  short  road  between,  too. 
A  vigilant  officer  might  sometimes  in  the  dead  of  night 
have  heard  the  challenge,  Halt  !  who's  there  ?  Friend 
with  a  bottle.  Advance  friend  with  the  bottle  and  pull  the 
cork.  If  a  man  knew  that  countersign  he  could  generally 
get  across. 

But  the  guard  line  of  the  Irish  Seventh  was  proof 
against  the  Springfield  colored  gentry.  One  night  a 
"coon"  had  tried  repeatedly  to  get  through,  but  was 
finally  arrested  by  an  Irish  recruit,  who  called,  "Corporal 
of  the  guard,  number  siven,  I've  got  a  damn  nager."  Just 
then  the  darkey  hit  him  on  the  noddle  with  a  brick  and  took 
French  leave.  Upon  recovery,  Mike  looked  around  for  his 
missing  game, and  halloed,  "Corporal  of  the  guard,  niver 
mind,  the  diimn  nager's  gone." 

But  all  was  not  pleasure  or  fun.  Galling  trials  were 
to  be  undergone,  for  a  young  American  who  breathes  the 
spirit  of  liberty  and  independence  with  the  every  breath  of 
life,  is  not  the  most  amenable  to  discipline.  The  continual 
salaaming  to  officers,  turning  out  of  the  guard  to  do  the 
honors  to  supercilious,  arbitrary,  bumptious  fellows,  who 
regarded  us  as  untrained  animals  and  tfiemselves  as  little 
gods,  was  exasperating  to  the  untrained  soldier.  Company 
I  is  to  be  congratulated  on  its  wise  selection  of  officers. 
They  are  men  and  treated  us  as  men.  They  did  not  for- 
get that  the  enlisted  man  did  not  sink  his  manhood  when 
he  joined  the  army;  that  he  volunteered  and  was  enlisted 
by  the  government  to  fight  for  his  country  and  not  for  the 
convenience  or  accommodation  of  a  set  of  officers.  That's 
the  reason  they  have  come  home  with  their  men,  while 
the  others  didn't  dare  to. 

29 


45O  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Our  feelings  toward  the  other  class  were  well  ex- 
pressed by  a  little  red  headed  Irishman  at  Springfield  dur- 
ing a  bantering  argument  with  Lieutenant  Mullins,  of  the 
Fifth.  Mullins  was  a  Martinet,  who  insisted  on  the  hon- 
ors being  properly  done.  We  had  been  up  all  night  on 
guard  and  did  not  feel  in  the  humor  to  turn  out  at  the 
every  appearance  of  His  Highness.  After  about  a  dozen 
rounds,  with  severe  lecturings  thrown  in,  we  came  to  the 
boiling  temperature.  Red  acted  as  the  nozzle  of  the  kettle 
and  sang  out,  "  I  told  the  boys  when  I  came  here  that  I 
wanted  a  job  that  I  could  hold,  and  I've  got  it.  This  is 
the  first  job  I  ever  got  that  I  couldn't  quit."  "Why  don't 
you  go  home,  then? "  said  Mullins.  "Didn't  I  try  to  go 
home  the  other  night  and  the  guard  wouldn't  let  me? 
From  what  I've  seen  around  here,  if  these  struttin'  officers 
would  tell  a  feller  to  butt  stumps  I  guess  he'd  have  to  butt." 
The  volunteer  soldier  loves  a  leader,  and  will  follow  him 
"into  the  jaws  of  death,  into  the  mouth  of  hell,"  but  a 
driver  he  hates. 

We  had  but  one  opportunity  of  getting  even  with  the 
officers,  and  that  was  on  one  rainy  day  in  Springfield,  when 
the  boys,  in  fun,  put  four  lieutenants,  six  captains  and  one 
major  through  a  paddling  machine,  just  as  their  mothers 
used  to  do.  We  found,  after  we  got  into  the  service,  that 
it  wouldn't  do  to  monkey  with  the  buzz  saw  any  more.  It 
would  have  been  about  as  wise  as  to  fool  with  the  business 
end  of  an  army  mule,  and  that,  as  old  vets  know,  isn't  Sol- 
omon like. 

After  the  mud,  rain  and  cold  in  Springfield,  sober 
satisfaction  prevailed  when  we  were  ordered  to  proceed  to 
Tampa.  We  thought  we  would  join  Shafter,  and  soon  be 
in  the  thick  of  battle.  But  here,  as  at  numerous  other 
times,  we  were  disappointed.  It  seemed  an  old  game,  in 
which  the  Fourth  continually  got  the  wrong  end  of  the 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  451 

stick.      Instead,   we  were   ordered  to   reinforce  the  other 
regiments  conducting  the  ever-memorable  siege  of  Jackson- 
ville.     We  had  expected  glorious  battle.     We  got  into  a 
scrimmage  with  stumps,  cactus,  weeds  and  briars.     With 
spade,  axe  and  pick,  we  finally  conquered,  but  we  couldn't 
see  anything  heroic  in  cutting  poles,  grubbing  stumps,  dig- 
ging ditches  and  other  things.     We  sweat  and  smelled  just 
like  we  would  at  home  in  a  potato  patch.     We  did  get  to 
make  some  bayonet  charges  on  an  old  picket  fence.     You 
could  see  that  fence  quiver  for  a  quarter  of  a  mile  when 
the  boys  gave  their  battle  yell.     But  we  became  popularly 
known  as  the  "Florida  Land  and  Improvement  Company." 
In  addition  to  our  other  trials  we  had  another  in  the 
person  of  a  chap  named  Bancroft — officially,  General  Ban- 
croft.     He  was,    as  the  boys  said,    "a  warm    member." 
We  stood  more  in  awe  of  him  than  did  ever  any  small  boy  . 
of  his   paternal  razor-strop.     This  fellow  used  to  get  up 
before  breakfast  and  scare  the  whole  guard  detail  into  a  fit 
of  the  jim-jams.      He  was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  and  many 
a  fellow  suffered  for  being  a  minute  late.     Once  the  tables 
were  turned  on  him.     It  was  announced  to  the  guard  one 
evening  that  the  General  would  inspect  the  lines  that  night. 
The  guards,   carefully  cocked   and   primed,   were   warned 
just  how  to  shoot  off,  and  told  the  hour  he  would  arrive. 
For  some  reason  he  delayed.     When   he   did   arrive,    he 
stumbled  onto  a    "rookey. "     In  answer  to  the  challenge 
hesaid,  '•  General  Bancroft."     "Well,"  said  the  "  rookey," 
"you'll  catch  thunder;  you're  two  hours  late."     Another 
time  he   put  a  fellow  through  a  severe  catechism.      "How 
do  you  salute?"     "I  don't  know."     "  What  would  you  do 
if  I  should  come   across  your  post?"     "I  don't  know." 
"What  would  you  do  if  a  fight  should  start  or  a  fire  break 
out?"      "I  don't  know."     "Well,   you   are    an    ignorant 
fellow.     What  would  you  do  if  you  were  at  home  ?"      "I 


452  HISTORY    OF    THE 

don't  know."  But  that  fellow  was  rattled.  There  are 
just  three  things  a  soldier  will  do  first  when  he  gets  home: 
First,  get  a  square  meal;  second,  have  his  picture  taken; 
and  third,  kiss  his  best  girl  if  he  has  one,  and  if  he  hasn't, 
he  ought  to  have. 

For  a  time  we  felt  life  under  General  Bancroft  to  be 
more  durable.  The  boys  used  to  threaten  to  transfer  or 
resign.  Moffett  said  the  next  time  he  would  join  the  Sal- 
vation Army  so  as  not  be  so  close  to  headquarters.  About 
this  time  a  long,  lean,  attenuated  individual  known  to  the 
boys  as  Jersey,  went  to  Major  Elliott  with  a  fine  half  mor- 
occo bible  under  his  arm,  a  present  from  his  sweetheart, 
who  adjured  him  to  study  it  faithfully,  and  startled  the 
Major  by  asking  him  for  a  transfer.  "Why  Jersey  what 
do  you  want  to  transfer  to?"  "To  the  Salvation  Army." 
" What  do  you  want  to  transfer  to  that  for?"  "My girl 
sent  me  a  bible  and  I  don't  know  what  to  do  with  it.  The 
boys  say  it's  a  dandy,  that  she  must  have  given  $3.  50  for 
it,  but  there  is  a  crap  game  going  on  down  here  and  if  some 
feller'l  give  me  two  dollars  fur  it  I  think  I'll  let  her  go. " 

While  General  Bancroft  was  severe  he  was  a  man  and 
a  gentleman.  Be  it  said  to  our  credit  that  we  learned  to 
appreciate  and  respect  him. 

Last  winter  an  old  veteran  told  me  that  if  a  soldier 
had  not  had  one' hundred  graybacks  on  him  at  one  time, 
moving  off  with  both  feet  simultaneously  at  once,  as  Colo- 
nel Andel  said,  he  had  never  seen  service.  That  was  a 
little  extravagant,  but  I'll  tell  you  a  little  secret  if  you'll 
promise  not  to  tease  us  about  it.  Agreed?  Well  we've  all 
seen  service.  Great  was  the  consternation  when  the  seam 
squirrel  struck  camp.  The  old  Confederate  gray  back 
seemed  to  be  still  true  to  the  Lost  Cause,  though  all  else 
had  forsaken  it,  for  he  industriously  pestered  the  boys  in 
blue  just  as  he  did  in  the  sixties.  Or  mayhap  I  do  him  an 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  453 

injustice.  He  might  have  been  doing  his  best  to  enlist  in 
'the  blue  in  order  to  get  at  the  Spanish  Don.  Some  of  us 
held  a  meeting, — adopted  a  set  of  resolutions  denouncing 
the  louse  tribe  in  general,  the  graybacks  in  particular,  and 
declared  that  not  a  seam  squirrel  should  set  foot  on  our 
soil. 

One  day  Tom  Adams  hailed  me  with,  "  Geo.  you  got 
any  graybacks?"  "No  sir,"  said  I,  "  I  don't  keep  such 
things."  "  Well  they're  in  your  squad."  "  The  dickens 
they  are,  whose  got  "em?"  "  Wib  and  Roy  and  Frank." 
''Well  by  jimminy  we'll  quarantine 'em."  As  I  went  to  my 
tent  I  mused.  If  they've  got  'em  its  barely  possible  I  have. 
They're  pretty  decent  fellows  and  I've  been  sleeping  right 
next  'em.  So  after  some  inquiry  as  to  the  habits  and 
habitat  of  the  animals,  I  removed  my  habiliment  and  com- 
menced a  search,  feeling  that  it  was  entirely  useless.  Well, 
I  doubled  and  counted  back  time  and  again,  omitted  all 
mention  of  the  nits,  and  still  I  was  ahead.  I  couldn't  dodge 
or  deny  it,  I  was  the  lousiest  man  in  the  squad. 

The  boys  set  huge  caldrons  of  water  on  the  fire  and 
put  in  kerosene,  salt,  vinegar  and  anything  else  that  they 
had  ever  heard  would  kill  a  louse.  I  thought,  now  that 
I'm  disgraced,  milder  and  less  laborious  methods  would 
suit  me  better,  and  so  I  got  a  specific  exterminator. 

Jacksonville  witnessed  the  hardest,  most  trying  period 
of  our  service.  Never  will  we  forget  the  terrible  months  of 
July,  August  and  September  under  the  blazing  sun  and  in 
the  blistering  sands  of  Florida.  Every  day  strong  men  fell 
from  the  ranks  before  the  onslaughts  of  a  mysterious, 
unseen,  but  terrible  foe,  and  were  borne  away  by  the 
ambulance  on  its  ceaseless  rounds  by  day  and  night  to  the 
tented  hospital  on  the  hillside.  Every  day,  as  the  soldiers 
visited  their  suffering  comrades,  they  saw  the  light  of  life 
flutter,  grow  dim,  and  at  last  go  out.  Every  day  the 


454  HISTORY    OF    THE 

somber  hearse,  bearing  its  sad  burden,  followed  by  a  group 
of  the  mourning  comrades  of  the  dead,  told  of  another 
patriot  gone  to  his  last  reward.  Every  day  the  station 
resounded  to  the  echoes  of  the  salute,  the  muffled  drum's 
sad  notes,  and  the  sweet  and  solemn  melody  of  the  bugle, 
as  the  last  sad  rites  were  paid  to  the  soldier  dead. 

Amidst  these  sad  scenes  we  witnessed  sublime  heroism 
in  the  acts  of  those  noble  women,  the  trained  nurses,  who 
so  unselfishly  sacrificed  large  salaries,  comparative  ease 
and  comfort,  and  some  their  lives,  for  the  onerous  and  dan- 
gerous duties  and  hard  conditions  of  a  military  hospital  to 
save  the  lives  of  our  dying  boys.  Said  Satan:  "Yea,  all 
that  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for  his  life."  And  many  a 
boy  today  owes  all  that  he  has  to  those  patriotic  women. 

Before  these  angels  of  life  and  mercy  came  into  our 
lives,  the  sick  soldier  boy  lay  on  his  poncho  or  blanket  in 
the  sand  and  died  in  the  clothes  in  which  he  had  gone  to 
the  hospital.  Delicacies  sent  to  the  soldiers  never  reached 
them.  Stimulants  and  food  for  their  benefit  were  mis- 
appropriated. They  received  scant  care  and  unskillful 
nursing. 

But  after  the  arrival  of  these  women,  oh,  what  a 
change.  Tents  were  floored.  Iron  bedsteads,  with  mat- 
tresses and  plenty  of  sheets  and  night  clothing,  made  their 
appearance.  Medicines  and  delicacies  found  their  way  to 
the  boys.  They  received  care  as  tender  and  thoughtful, 
and  more  skillful,  than  a  mother  or  sister  could  have 
given.  Day  and  night  these  sweet-faced,  tender-hearted 
and  iron-nerved  women  moved  from  sufferer  to  sufferer, 
softly,  sweetly  speaking  words  of  cheer  and  comfort, 
smoothing  the  pillow,  raising  the  cooling  cup  to  the  fevered 
lips,  fanning  the  burning  brow,  administering  the  health 
giving  draught,  and  checking  the  flow  of  the  crimson  tide 
of  life;  or  sat  by  the  side  of  the  dying,  catching  the  last 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  455 

message  of  love  to  the  folks  at  home,  wiping  the  death 
damp  from  the  brow,  and  speaking  words  of  faith  and  hope 
to  steady  the  nerves  when  the  awful  moment  arrived  and 
the  dying  one  stood  face  to  face  with  fhe  great  unknown. 
For  their  noble  work  in  the  Civil  War,  Abraham  Lincoln 
said:  "God  bless  the  women  of  America,"  and  from  my 
humble  corner  I  echo  a  fervent  Amen. 

And,  Oh!  how  hungry  the  sick  boys  used  to  get.  They 
used  to  lie  and  talk  of  the  good  things  they  would  get  when 
they  got  well  'til  some  fellow  unable  to  stand  it  longer  would 
hollow,  "  shut  up,  I'm  hungry  enough  without  that."  One 
evening  the  physician  raised  their  diet  list.  They  lay 
awake  half  the  night  thinking  of  the  morning  meal.  But 
the  arbitrary  attendant  cut  the  ration  in  two.  The  patients 
did  much  grumbling  and  made  many  sarcastic  remarks,  'til 
the  nurse  who  was  not  a  good  representative  of  the  profqs- 
sion,  in  great  wrath  exclaimed:  "Well,  if  you  want  to 
kill  yourself,  you  can  eat  a  cow  for  all  I  care."  "Bring 
on  the  cow  and  the  calf  too." 

For  the  doctors  the  boys  had  little  use  and  much  con- 
tempt. They  used  to  say  the  doctors  would  give  a  fellow 
a  pill  for  a  sore  toe.  Peter  Akeman  had  an  ailment  of 
some  kind  and  called  on  the  doctor  for  relief.  Sawbones 
gave  him  some  pills.  A  few  days  later  he  had  an  entirely 
different  complaint  and  got  more  pills,  Pete  declared  out 
of  the  same  bottle.  Said  he,  "  Say,  doctor,  how  do  these 
b-b-blame  things  know  where  to  go  to?" 

Right  glad  were  the  boys  to  leave  Jacksonville  for  Sa- 
vannah. At  Savannah  the  boys  first  saw  a  genuine  mani- 
festation of  the  noted  Southern  hospitality.  Their  gener- 
ous treatment  by  the  citizens  won  the  boys'  hearts  com- 
pletely, while  the  efficient  service,  manly  conduct  and 
gallantry  of  the  boys  won  the  esteem  of  all  the  Savannah 
citizens,  both  white  and  black.  Not  too  much  can  be  said 


for  the  loyalty  and  patriotism  of  the  southern  people.  The 
state  of  Illinois  owes  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  people  of  Sa- 
vannah for  their  generous  and  friendly  treatment  of  the 
boys  of  Illinois. 

Here  they  won  laurels  in  eliciting  the  highest  meed  of 
praise  from  our  President  that  could  be  given  a  volunteer 
regiment.  Said  he:  "It  is  the  best  volunteer  regiment 
that  I  have  ever  seen.  The  correct  distances,  perfect  lines, 
military  bearing  and  easy  swinging  step  mark  them  a 
splendid  organization  of  men."  Illinois  got  her  reputation 
up  down  there,  for  it  takes  good  daddies  and  good  mothers 
to  raise  such  fellows. 

It  was  with  deep  regret  on  the  part  of  both  citizens 
and  soldiers  that  the  Fourth  took  its  leave  for  Cuba.  Our 
voyage  was  another  trying  experience.  During  our  journey 
by  rail  much  trouble  had  been  experienced  in  keeping  the 
boys  on  the  cars.  We  were  always  warned  not  to  get  off. 
So  a  certain  Captain,  true  to  habit,  drew  his  men  up  in 
line  shortly  after  we  had  weighed  anchor  and  said  very 
earnestly:  "  Now  men,  we'er  off  for  Cuba  and  I  don't 
want  a  damned  one  of  you  to  get  off  the  boat." 

As  the  ship  began  to  roll  and  toss  and  heave,  we  also 
began  to  roll  and  toss  and  heave,  and  soon  we  cast  our 
bread  upon  the  waters.  As  "Runty"  said  we  threw  up 
everything  but  our  reputations.  We  might  have  felt  re- 
lieved could  we  have  gotten  rid  of  those  also.  One  fellow 
was  doing  especially  well  by  the  fish,  when  a  sympathetic 
comrade  inquired:  "Why,  Joe,  are  you  sick?"  "Sick! 
The  Devil!  Do  you  'spose  I'm  pukin'  for  fun?"  When  we 
got  off  we  were  a  hopeless,  helpless  looking  set.  Even  our 
shadows  looked  bilious.  We  had  been  touched  for  all  we 
had. 

Cuba  we  found  to  be  a  beautiful  land  of  fertile  fields, 
gorgeous  flowers,  waving  palms,  crystal  streams,  days  of 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS. 


golden  sunshine,  glorious  starlit  nights  and  beautiful 
women. 

The  American  soldier  has  a  keen  eye  for  beauty,  es- 
pecially in  the  fair  sex.  To  him  it  is  no  trifling  thing.  He 
sympathizes  with  Hyatt  of  a  certain  story.  Hyatt  and 
Wyatt  were  close  college  chums.  Coming  down  the  stair- 
case one  day  Hyatt  said  to  Wyatt,  "Who  is  that  plain, 
homely  creature  there  in  front?"  Said  Wyatt,  "  That's  my 
wife."  "Wyatt,  how  did  it  happen  that  a  man  of  your 
ability,  education,  experience  and  prospects,  married  such 
a  looker  as  that?"  "  Well,  now,  Hyatt,  don't  be  too  hard. 
Beauty  is  only  skin  deep,  you  know."  "Well  for  heaven's 
sake,  skin  her  then." 

But  notwithstanding  the  beauty  and  agreeableness  of 
our  surroundings,  the  hearts  of  the  boys  yearned  for  Illi- 
nois. Anything  pleasing  happened,  the  shout  was  Illinois'. 
Anything  displeasing  or  disappointing  occurred,  the  wail 
was  for  Illinois.  In  their  waking  moments  they  talked  of 
Illinois,  and  locked  in  the  soft  but  strong  embrace  of  slum- 
ber they  murmured  Illinois,  Illinois.  If  the  transport  had 
gone  down  amidst  the  tossing  billows,  the  last  head  that 
bobbed  above  water  would  have  shrieked  Illinois  or  some- 
thing else. 

Every  night  borne  on  the  rushing  pinions  of  the  imag- 
ination they  went  back  to  the  old  home  and  saw  father  and 
mother,  brother,  sister  or  some  one  else.  When  day  dis- 
pelled the  illusion  they'd  laughingly  say,  Well  I'sup  home 
last  night  and  saw  Bud.  Had  the  biggest  chicken  in  the 
barnyard.  God  bless  thee  Illinois.  Thou  hast  the  best  cat- 
tle, the  finest  horses,  the  fairest  fields,  the  greenest  mead- 
ows, the  noblest  streams,  the  shadiest  forests,  the  prettiest 
girls,  the  sweetest  homes  and  the  best,  the  fondest,  the 
kindliest  old  folks  of  any  spot  on  God's  green  earth.  When 
we  leave  thee  again  Oh!  Illinois,  Uncle  Sam  will  be  in  dire 


458  %  HISTORY    OF    THE 

straits.  We  are  glad  to  be  with  you  again.  We  have  not 
had  a  hard  time;  a  pretty  good  time  for  soldiers  we  guess; 
but  soldiering  is  no  fun  at  best.  We  realize  that  our  sacri- 
fices were  pale  in  comparison  with  those  of  the  heroes  of 
the  Revolution,  who  marched  and  fought,  shoeless,  hatless 
and  ragged,  leaving  their  foot  prints  in  blood  on  the  frozen 
ground;  or  with  those  of  the  boys  of  '61,  who  battled  on 
the  red  field  at  Shiloh,  charged  through  the  clouds  at  Mis- 
sionary Ridge  and  stormed  the  heights  of  bloody  Kenesaw. 
We  know  we  cannot  go  down  in  history  with  the  veterans 
who  withstood  the  storm  of  shot  and  shell  at  Gettysburg, 
or  perished  in  the  Wilderness  of  death,  or  at  Spottsylvania, 
Cold  Harbor  or  Appomatox. 

But  let  no  man  point  the  finger  of  scorn  at  any  boy 
who  wore  the  blue  in  '98  and  '99.  Let  no  sneer  pass  the 
lips  of  the  frivolous.  Let  not  the  arrows  of  cruel  satire 
and  ridicule  be  leveled  at  him  who  considers  it  unfortunate 
that  he  did  not  participate  in  battle.  He  has  performed 
the  fullest  measure  of  duty  that  the  God  of  battles,  the  for- 
tunes of  war  and  the  destinies  of  nations  permitted.  He 
has  performed  his  duties  in  a  manner  that  won  him  the 
admiration  and  praise  of  not  only  our  chief  magistrate,  but 
of  foreign  soldiers  and  statesmen  as  well.  He  enlisted  to 
fight,  and  confidently  expected  and  ardently  wished  to  see 
action.  True,  he  might  not  'have  been  so  brave  on  the 
firing  line.  He  might  have  had  sudden  chills  or  St.  Vitus 
dance;  his  trousers  might  have  needed  little  Grovers  on 
their  rear;  but  even  those  feelings  are  not  alien  to  tried 
veterans. 

During  a  certain  battle  of  the  civil  war  a  heavy  mus- 
ketry fire  was  in  progress.  Men  were  falling  fast.  It  was 
a  time  when  the  oldest  and  bravest  would  have  gladly  been 
in  their  tents.  A  rabbit,  scared  out  of  .the  brush  by  the 
terrific  fire,  went  full  tilt  for  the  rear.  As  his  little  white 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  459 

tail  bobbed  up  and  down,  hither  and  thither,  in  and  out 
amongst  the  tall  grass,  General  Vance,  afterward  governor 
of  South  Carolina,  shouted  after  him:  "  Go'er,  cottontail; 
if  I  hadn't  a  reputation  I'd  be  with  you." 

As  before  said,  they  enlisted  to  fight,  and  its  no  fault 
of  theirs,  that  they're  not  every  one  lying  dead  on  the  field 
of  Santiago.  And  in  a  larger  sense  than  first  appears,  the 
credit  for  our  brilliant  victory  belongs  in  some  measure  to 
those  who  did  not  see  action.  It  is  reserve  force  that  wins 
the  victories  of  nations,  as  well  as  the  triumphs  of  the  ora- 
tor, the  success  of  the  physician,  the  statesman  or  the  busi- 
ness man.  Il  is  idle  to  believe  that  our  victory  could  have 
been  so  soon  and  so  easily  won  with  an  army  composed  of 
only  those  who  fought  at  Santiago  and  Manilla.  It  was 
the  knowledge  that  still  two  hundred  thousand  soldiers  just 
as  willing  and  capable  as  those  who  fought  at  Santiago, 
were  ready  to  take  the  field,  that  caused  Spain  to  see  the 
hopelessness  of  her  struggle.  It  is  not  flattering  to  Amer- 
ican pride  to  believe  that  out  of  our  army  of  two  hundred 
and  seventy-five  thousand  men  only  thirty-five  or  forty 
thousand  were  brave  enough  to  fight. 

These  men  sacrificed  time,  money  and  opportunity, 
home  and  friends  and  social  position  to  do  and  die  for  their 
country.  In  this  they  were  disappointed,  but  as  they  look 
abroad  upon  the  brightened  prospects  of  the  world  and  of 
mankind,  they  feel  that  the  sacrifice  has  not  been  in  vain. 

From  their  example  our  country  has  learned  a  new 
lesson  of  itself.  It  has  learned  that  the  sordid  greed  for 
wealth  and  material  gain  has  not  dulled  the  sense  of  honor 
nor  quenched  the  fires  of  patriotism  burning  in  the  breasts 
of  the  common  people.  We  have  learned  that  no  longer 
is  there  a  North,  a  South,  an  East  or  a  West,  that  the  sen- 
timent of  our  whole  people  in  our  country,  our  whole  coun- 
try and  nothing  but  our  conntry,  one  flag,  one  cause,  one 


460  HISTORY    OF    THE 

country,  one  heart.  We  know  that  no  selfish  considera- 
tion of  material  gain  will  ever  cause  our  nation  "to  take 
its  hand  from  the  sword  hilt  to  put  a  penny  in  its  purse," 
when  a  duty  toward  humanity  is  to  be  performed. 

While  we  know  that  every  grand  Empire  and  aspiring 
Republic  that  have  passed  from  earth,  have  been  slain  with 
a  dagger  of  fine  gold;  despite  the  selfish  cant  of  Mam- 
mon's helots,  we  may  be  assured  that  the  foundations  of 
our  national  power  are  still  strong.  When  a  great  nation 
champions  the  golden  rule  among  nations,  stays  the  hand 
of  the  assassinating  robber  and  oppressor,  strikes  the 
shackles  from  the  limbs  of  the  political  slave,  assists  strug- 
gling manhood,  avenges  outraged  womanhood,  lights  the 
torch  of  liberty  amidst  the  darkness  of  tyranny,  dries  the 
eyes  and  lifts  the  fallen  form  of  weeping,  suffering  humanity 
and  puts  bread  in  the  mouth  of  starving  childhood,  we  may 
be  assured  that  Almighty  God  has  a  work  for  that  nation 
to  perform.  But  let  us  hope  that  the  dawn  of  the 
twentieth  century  will  usher  in  a  newer  and  better  era. 
Already  we  have  hea^d  the  harbingers  of  the  coming  day, 
for  out  of  the  depths  of  Russia  there  has  come  a  voice 
earnestly  pleading  for  peace.  Already  the  eastern  sky  is 
aglow  and  burnished  arrows  of  light  shot  from  the  golden 
bow  of  morning  dart  to  the  zenith. 

Let  us  hope  that  it  may  be  the  golden  age  of  peace,  of 
fraternity,  of  equality.  When  wars  and  struggles,  national 
and  international,  shall  be  no  more;  when  every  son  of 
God  may  peaceably  eat  his  bread  in  the  sweat  of  his  own 
brow;  when  the  sword  shall  be  be  beaten  into  the  plough 
share,  and  the  spear  into  the  pruning  hook;  when  the 
lamb  shall  lie  down  with  the  wolf;  when  a  little  child  shall 
lead  them;  when  joy,  love  and  peace  reigning  supreme 
shall  swell  with  emotion  the  human  heart,  issuing  forth  in 
one  world-wide  universal  song,  and  ascend  to  the  far  off 


FOURTH    ILLINOIS.  461 

heavens  all  aglow  with  the  dazzling  radiance  of  the  star  of 
Bethlehem,  shining  o'er  the  glorified  form  of  the  Prince  of 
Peace  seated  on  his  jewelled  throne.  Angel  choirs  with 
psalter  harp  and  dulcimer  will  echo  the  glad  refrain  in- 
psalm  and  hymn.  The  celestial  harmony,  rolling  along 
the  golden  streets,  through  the  pearly  gates  and  o'er  the 
jasper  walls,  on,  on,  on  through  the  starry  universe,  will 
blend  with  the  music  of  the  spheres,  carrying  the  glad  song 
to  faraway  worlds  to  us  unknown,  while  echoing  and  re- 
echoing on  the  boundless  shores  of  the  universe,  where 
beat  the  waves  of  eternity's  time,  will  be  heard  the  soft, 
sweet  murmur  of  the  Angel  hymn,  "On  Earth,  Peace, 
Good  Will  to  Men." 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-  URBANA 


